MLB Rumors: Red Sox Strongly Pursue Freddy Peralta; Matt Shaw Trade Buzz Grows Post Alex Bregman Cubs Move

The Boston Red Sox missed out on signing their primary offseason target, Alex Bregman, after the All-Star infielder signed a five-year, $175 ceal with the Chicago Cubs to conclude his free agency.

Although the Red Sox remain in the market for an All-Star caliber slugger, the AL East franchise has been linked with a few rotation pieces this offseason to bolster their pitching staff ahead of the 2026 season.

According to MLB insider Hector Gomez, the Red Sox are one of the teams “strongly” linked with Milwaukee Brewers starter Freddy Peralta.

“SOURCE: Red Sox, Mets, Padres, and Yankees continue to show strong interest in a trade with the Brewers to acquire Freddy Peralta,” Gomez wrote on X.

The Red Sox will face stiff competition from division rivals, the New York Yankees, for Peralta, as the Bronx Bombers are also looking to strengthen their injury-ravaged starting rotation for the 2026 season. According to Gomez, the San Diego Padres are a “strong contender” for the Brewers’ ace.

Meanwhile, the Cubs, who made a statement by signing Bregman in free agency, seemingly have a logjam of infielders. According to MLB insider Jon Morosi, the Cubs could trade one of Nico Hoerner or Matt Shaw.

While Morosi said that the Cubs would be more inclined to trade Hoerner, Shaw could be one of the players the Red Sox could target to bolster their infield after missing out on a reunion with Bregman.

MLB Insider Names Cubs’ Matt Shaw as “Obvious Candidate” for Trade After Signing Alex Bregman

While Matt Shaw made his MLB debut for the Cubs in 2025, MLB insider Keith Law believes the franchise is willing to part ways with Shaw just after one season.

“The Cubs now have one infielder too many, and they’re going to end up trading someone,” Law wrote. “The most obvious candidate is Shaw, whose rookie season was a disappointment at the plate thanks to some frequent mechanical changes and, according to people I’ve spoken to, resistance to help from the Cubs’ staff.”

It’ll be interesting to see if the Cubs are willing to trade Shaw or his infield partner, Nico Hoerner, who earned his second Gold Glove award last season.

Also Read:

“Kyle Tucker Is Gonna Ask for More Years” – MLB Insider Reveals How Alex Bregman’s $175,000,000 Cubs Deal Reshapes Free Agency

“Absurd Overpay”; “Sox Probably Offered $85M” – Fans Go Wild as Boston’s 5-Year Push for Alex Bregman Falls Short to Cubs’ Bigger Bid

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