The Boston Red Sox entered the late stages of April with a clear organizational message, as chief baseball officer Craig Breslow emphasized the urgent need for improved infield defense ahead of the upcoming season.

Breslow’s comments on Wednesday were not subtle, nor were they surprising, given the defensive shortcomings that plagued Boston throughout the previous campaign and directly contributed to costly losses.

The Red Sox finished the season leading Major League Baseball in total errors, a statistic that consistently undermined pitching performances and forced the team into extended innings and unfavorable game states.

That defensive inefficiency has pushed the front office to re-evaluate infield alignment, with particular attention paid to second and third base, the two positions most likely to undergo change.

According to The Athletic reporter Jen McCaffrey, Boston’s internal preference is to deploy top prospect Marcelo Mayer at third base.

That alignment would solidify one corner of the infield while opening the door for the organization to pursue a defensively elite option at second base to stabilize the middle.

Within the same report, McCaffrey identified Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs as a potential trade fit for Boston.

The suggestion immediately generated intrigue, given Hoerner’s reputation as one of the premier defensive second basemen in baseball and his familiarity with Fenway Park from interleague play.

While Hoerner may not provide the offensive production typically associated with Boston’s lineup construction, his value extends far beyond the box score.

He is widely regarded as an elite glove, a high-IQ baserunner, and a stabilizing presence capable of elevating an entire defensive unit.

The logic behind the trade speculation stemmed from Hoerner’s contract status, as he has just one year remaining before reaching free agency.

That timeline naturally invites questions about whether Chicago would consider maximizing his value now rather than risk losing him for minimal return later.

However, that speculation encountered immediate resistance from a respected league insider.

During Thursday’s episode of the “Fair Territory” podcast, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic expressed skepticism that the Cubs would entertain such a move.

Rosenthal acknowledged the positional logic from Boston’s perspective but made it clear that he does not expect Chicago to deal Hoerner.

He reiterated that while Hoerner fits what the Red Sox are looking for almost perfectly, fit alone does not dictate market availability.

Rosenthal referenced McCaffrey’s reporting, agreeing that Boston would prefer Mayer at third base while acquiring a dependable second baseman capable of rounding out the infield defensively.

Still, he cautioned against assuming the Cubs would be willing partners.

“I don’t know that the Cubs are going to trade Nico Hoerner,” Rosenthal said, underscoring how unlikely such a deal may be.

Chicago’s current roster construction further complicates the matter.

The Cubs recently signed third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency, a move that reshaped their infield alignment and clarified roles.

With Bregman at third base, Dansby Swanson locked in at shortstop, and Hoerner at second, the Cubs project one of the strongest defensive infields in the league.

Second-year infielder Matt Shaw is expected to fill a utility role, potentially seeing time in the outfield as well.

While Shaw’s natural position is second base, his versatility provides Chicago with internal flexibility rather than urgency to move Hoerner.

That flexibility reduces the incentive for the Cubs to trade a player who consistently produces elite defensive value and clubhouse stability.

Hoerner’s résumé supports Rosenthal’s position.

The 28-year-old is a Gold Glove winner and routinely ranks among league leaders in defensive metrics at second base.

He also delivers strong baserunning value and positional consistency, traits that are difficult to replace.

From a front-office perspective, teams with legitimate postseason aspirations rarely trade players who provide six-WAR value, even with looming free agency.

Chicago views itself as a contender, particularly after adding Bregman and reinforcing its roster for sustained competitiveness.

Trading Hoerner would weaken a core strength and potentially undermine the Cubs’ short-term championship ambitions.

That reality forces the Red Sox to consider alternatives.

While Hoerner represents an ideal target on paper, the probability of acquiring him appears increasingly remote.

As a result, Boston must prepare a viable Plan B to address its infield defense.

The urgency remains high.

The Red Sox cannot afford another season where defensive lapses erase pitching gains and compound roster inefficiencies.

Improved run prevention is not optional; it is foundational to Breslow’s roster vision.

Mayer’s anticipated move to third base is a step in that direction, but it does not solve the middle-infield issue by itself.

Second base remains the critical variable.

Boston could explore other trade candidates, short-term free agents, or internal development options, though none offer Hoerner’s combination of certainty and elite defense.

Each alternative carries trade-offs in cost, projection, or timeline.

What remains clear is that Breslow’s emphasis on defense represents a philosophical shift toward sustainability rather than short-term patchwork.

Reducing errors, tightening infield play, and supporting a young pitching staff are central to that strategy.

The Hoerner discussion underscores the broader challenge facing the Red Sox.

Identifying the right player is only half the equation.

Availability, cost, and timing ultimately dictate feasibility.

As Rosenthal suggested, the Cubs are under no obligation to weaken themselves simply to satisfy another team’s needs.

For Boston, realism must guide the next phase of planning.

Whether through a secondary trade target or a creative internal solution, the Red Sox must address second base before Opening Day.

Failing to do so risks repeating a season defined by defensive frustration and missed opportunities.

The message from the front office is clear.

Defense matters again in Boston.

How the Red Sox execute that vision will determine whether their offseason groundwork translates into tangible progress.

If Nico Hoerner is Plan A, the Red Sox must be prepared for life without him.

A championship-caliber roster cannot hinge on an unlikely trade.

Adaptability, not idealism, will shape the next move.