As things stand, the Chicago Cubs don’t have an immediate need at third base. They have Matt Shaw, a young prospect ready for his MLB debut, and Justin Turner, who could serve as either a platoon player or a full-time starter, depending on the team’s plans. However, prioritizing Turner’s at-bats over Shaw’s development would be questionable given Turner’s age and career stage.
Looking at the Cubs’ recent moves, Jed Hoyer made the necessary offseason adjustments, but past indications suggested his job could have been in jeopardy if the team underperformed. If the Cubs struggle again in 2025, Hoyer likely won’t return. With that in mind, the team could pursue a major trade, and Rafael Devers could be a potential target if things unravel in Boston.
Devers recently discussed his reluctance to move off third base alongside Alex Bregman, which led Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report to propose trade scenarios involving him. For the Cubs, Rymer suggested a deal sending Seiya Suzuki and prospect Moises Ballesteros to Boston. He argued that while Turner is no longer a viable third base option at 40, Devers would be a much better fit for Chicago’s roster.
“This trade would involve moving Suzuki, whose role as the primary DH could be awkward,” Rymer wrote. While this deal would be a huge win for the Cubs, it’s far less appealing for the Red Sox. Acquiring an inconsistent outfielder and an unproven prospect in exchange for one of MLB’s top players wouldn’t align with Boston’s goal of remaining competitive.
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