The Boston Red Sox have set the baseball world abuzz as they charge into spring training week with a flurry of roster moves and trade talks, signaling a clear intent to reshape their infield for the 2026 season. In a move confirmed by ESPN’s Jeff Passan early Monday, the Red Sox are acquiring third baseman Caleb Durbin from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for left-hander Kyle Harrison and two other players. This trade, coming just days before pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers, Florida, underscores chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s urgency to bolster the lineup after a tumultuous offseason.
Durbin, just 25 years old, is coming off a breakout campaign that saw him finish third in National League Rookie of the Year voting. His .256/.334/.387 slash line, complemented by 11 home runs, 18 stolen bases, and impressive defense across third base, shortstop, and second, made him a hot commodity on the trade market. According to the Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, “Multiple industry sources identified Brewers infielder Caleb Durbin as a potential Sox target.” Now, with the deal finalized, Durbin is set to bring his versatile glove and energetic bat to Fenway Park.
But Durbin isn’t the only infielder drawing Boston’s interest as the team looks to fill the void left by Alex Bregman, who departed for the Chicago Cubs in free agency earlier this offseason. The Red Sox have been heavily engaged in trade talks with the Cubs, eyeing infielders Nico Hoerner and Massachusetts native Matt Shaw. According to Speier, “The Sox continue to explore trades with the Cubs about both Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw. Chicago is weighing whether to deal one of those players given a potential packed infield following the signing of Bregman, or keeping both and making Shaw a super-utility option.”
The intrigue doesn’t stop there. The Red Sox are reportedly among the two or three most serious suitors for a Chicago infielder, with Jarren Duran’s name surfacing in trade discussions. However, left-handed prospect Connelly Early has not been included in those talks. The Cubs, now flush with infield depth thanks to Bregman’s arrival and the presence of Dansby Swanson, appear to be weighing their options carefully. Shaw, just 24 and under team control through 2031, hit .226 with 13 home runs in 393 at-bats during his rookie season. His youth, power potential, and local roots make him an attractive target for Boston, though the price is expected to be steep. As for Hoerner, he’s entering the final year of his contract but brings an elite glove and a .282 career batting average. In 2025, he hit .297 with 7 home runs, 61 RBIs, 29 stolen bases, and captured his second consecutive Gold Glove at second base. “He would play second base and pair with Trevor Story to make a dynamic up the middle duo,” one report notes, highlighting the potential defensive strength such a pairing would bring.
Yet, the Cubs’ willingness to move Hoerner remains in question. With Bregman in the fold, the club is all-in on a playoff push, and trading away a player of Hoerner’s caliber might run counter to their ambitions. Still, Boston’s persistent interest, and the allure of adding a big-league-ready outfielder like Duran, could keep the conversation alive as spring training nears.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox have also been linked to Houston Astros infielder Isaac Paredes. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome report that legitimate trade talks occurred involving a potential three-way deal that would have sent Paredes to Boston and utilityman Brendan Donovan to Houston. The deal ultimately fell through, with Donovan landing with the Seattle Mariners and Boston left empty-handed. Despite the setback, the Red Sox remain one of at least five teams still engaged with the Astros about Paredes, who is seen as an ideal fit for Fenway Park due to his dead-pull hitting style. The 26-year-old Mexican infielder is a two-time All-Star with a career .237 batting average, 92 home runs, and 287 RBIs. He’s had double-digit home runs in each of the last four seasons and remains under team control for two more years.
The Red Sox’s aggressive search for infield help is driven by several factors. The loss of Bregman left a gaping hole at third base, and while Durbin’s arrival provides a much-needed boost, the club is clearly not content to stop there. “The ideal acquisition would be a right-handed infielder who plays sharp defense and actually adds to the lineup,” Tim Healey of the Boston Globe observed, noting that such players are rare commodities this late in the offseason. The front office’s willingness to pursue multiple avenues—whether it’s the slick-fielding Hoerner, the power-hitting Shaw, or the Fenway-friendly Paredes—demonstrates a commitment to fielding a competitive roster despite the clock ticking toward Opening Day.
Spring training’s imminent start only heightens the sense of urgency. With pitchers and catchers set to report to Fort Myers this week, the Red Sox are racing against time to finalize their roster and answer lingering questions about their infield alignment. The Athletic’s Rosenthal and Rome captured the current mood: “Boston remains one of at least five teams engaged with the Astros about Paredes, according to multiple league sources.” The same sense of anticipation is echoed by fans and analysts alike, as speculation swirls about which moves Breslow will ultimately pull off before the first workout begins.
Of course, the Red Sox aren’t operating in a vacuum. The Cubs’ infield logjam, created by the addition of Bregman and the emergence of Swanson and Shaw, could make a deal more likely—if the right offer comes along. For the Astros, moving Paredes would help balance their roster, especially after missing out on Donovan. And for the Brewers, the acquisition of Kyle Harrison—who headlines the three-player package from Boston—signals their own desire to add pitching depth in exchange for Durbin’s breakout potential.
As Baseball Prospectus noted in their February 9 analysis, the Red Sox’s last-minute maneuvering is emblematic of a front office determined to leave no stone unturned. The coming days promise plenty of intrigue as Breslow and his staff work the phones, exploring every possible avenue to fortify the infield and give manager Alex Cora the pieces he needs for a playoff run.
For now, Red Sox Nation watches and waits. Will Durbin’s arrival be the first of several dominoes to fall? Could Hoerner or Shaw soon be donning a Boston uniform? Or will Paredes’ power bat find its way to Fenway? With spring training upon us and trade talks still percolating, the answers are coming—and the Red Sox are making sure the baseball world is paying attention.