Sorting through Nico Hoerner, Isaac Paredes, and Brendan Donovan as Breslow’s offseason vision sharpens.
If the Red Sox really are lining themselves up for one last meaningful move this offseason, the shape of that move is no longer a mystery - even if the name attached to it still is.
Craig Breslow has spent the winter telling us, in actions more than words, what kind of team he’s trying to build. Pitching depth through trades. Control years over flash. Run prevention as a guiding principle. And, most recently, an infielder who can actually defend.
That last part matters.
Boston isn’t looking to replace Alex Bregman’s star power. They’re trying to finish a roster that suddenly has a clear identity:
Gloves that matter, pitchers who can trust them, young hitters put in positions to succeed rather than scramble.
According to multiple reports over the last month-plus, three infielders keep popping up in that context: Brendan Donovan, Isaac Paredes, and Nico Hoerner.
All three help in different ways. All three would cost something meaningful.
But if the Red Sox are choosing just one, the order of preference feels increasingly clear.
Jul 5, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) completes a double play after forcing out St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan (33) during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field. (Patrick Gorski/Imagn Images)Here’s how I rank the the three, with the top spot being the best fit for Boston:
3. Brendan Donovan - Versatility helps, but the cost is murky:
There’s a reason Donovan’s name makes sense on paper.
He gets on base. He moves around the diamond. He’s coming off an All-Star season. And the Red Sox have already shown they’re comfortable dealing with St. Louis, especially with Chaim Bloom now running the Cardinals’ baseball ops.
Donovan would immediately stabilize multiple spots.
He could play second. He could play third. He could slide into the outfield in a pinch. For a roster that still feels transitional in places, that flexibility has value.
The issue is everything around the fit.
Donovan doesn’t actually solve the defensive pressure point as cleanly as the other options. He’s solid, not elite, and the price tag - based on reporting - feels closer to “significant” than “reasonable.” Once you start talking about names like Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, or even Brayan Bello as part of the conversation, the math gets uncomfortable fast.
Donovan helps. He just doesn’t clarify the roster.
Sep 16, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) is out at second base as St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan (33) turns a double play in the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. (Joe Puetz/Imagn Images)2. Isaac Paredes - Bat makes sense, the defense less so:
If this ranking were purely about offense, Paredes might be No. 1.
He brings right-handed power. He gets on base. He’s controlled beyond 2025. And he fits the age curve Boston has prioritized all winter. Dropping him into the lineup immediately lengthens it and takes pressure off younger hitters.
There’s also a world where Paredes at third base allows Marcelo Mayer to be brought along carefully, without forcing positional decisions too early.
But here’s the hang-up:
Defense.
Breslow didn’t say the next infielder needed to hit. He said he needed to defend.
Paredes is fine at third, but fine isn’t what this front office has been signaling lately. Not with the rotation they’ve built. Not with run prevention becoming a theme again.
Paredes makes the lineup better. He just doesn’t complete the picture the way the top option does.
Jun 26, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes (15) throws a fielded ball to first base for an out against the Philadelphia Phillies during the seventh inning at Daikin Park. (Erik Williams/Imagn Images)1. Nico Hoerner - Cleanest fit, even if it hurts:
Hoerner isn’t flashy. He doesn’t sell jerseys. And he probably won’t ever be the reason you tune into a random Tuesday night game.
Which is exactly why he feels so on-brand for this version of the Red Sox.
Elite defense at second base. Real contact skills. Speed. Structure. He stabilizes the middle of the diamond and lets everything else fall into place. If the internal preference is truly for Marcelo Mayer to settle at third long-term, Hoerner becomes the glue piece that makes that plan viable.
Yes, he’s a free agent after the season. Yes, the Cubs would want real talent back. And yes, the prospect cost will sting.
But Breslow has already shown he’s willing to trade from pitching depth to solve bigger roster issues - decisively (to a fault), not recklessly.
Hoerner doesn’t just add a player. He finalizes a blueprint.
This wouldn’t be a splash. It would be a finishing touch.
And if the Red Sox make one more move this winter, don’t be surprised if it’s the one that makes everything else suddenly make sense.
Sep 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) warms up before a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.