After weeks of rumored links to seemingly every top-tier infielder available on the free agent and trade markets, the Boston Red Sox settled on Willson Contreras as their first offensive upgrade.
Contreras is a good fit with Boston, especially after the St. Louis Cardinals moved him to first base full-time last year. He’ll bring a consistent bat with a much-needed dose of power and solid defense to the corner, where the Red Sox have been unstable since 2023 due to long-term injuries to Triston Casas.
Most reporters and insiders expect the Sox to add another bat before Opening Day. Alex Bregman is the subject of most of the speculation, but some fans are still dedicated to the idea of a trade for Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte.
The infielder is under contract until 2030, and it would take quite the package from Boston to convince the D-Backs to move him. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that Arizona seeks young, major league ready players back in exchange for Marte, and that may have been the dealbreaker for the Sox — insider Bob Nightengale believes they’re ready to end their push for Marte after the Contreras deal, although nothing has been confirmed.
Diamondbacks’ asking price for Ketel Marte may have scared the Red Sox away
Major league ready pitching could include players like Connelly Early or Payton Tolle. There was also speculation that the Diamondbacks wanted someone to take Marte’s place in their lineup and Marcelo Mayer could’ve been their ideal target (subscription required).
The Red Sox have traded quite shrewdly this offseason, only dealing from places of depth. After bringing in Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, as well as two years of savvy drafting by Craig Breslow, Boston had a litany of pitching depth to trade from. It used some in its deals for Gray and Contreras, but losing Early and Tolle, two pitchers so close to MLB readiness, is much tougher to swallow given Gray’s one-year deal and some of the depth they’ve already lost.
Boston’s infield flexibility has taken a hit after the Bregman opt out and Rafael Devers trade. If the Diamondbacks’ Marte trade demands include Mayer, the Red Sox may not be willing to make that work. Adding Contreras and Marte’s salaries to Boston’s payroll could very well take it out of the Bregman race, but its backup option at third base will be gone and it would be forced to make another move to add one back to the mix. If they signed Bo Bichette instead of trading for Marte, Mayer would likely take over as the third baseman.
The Red Sox also committed years of work and hype to Mayer as part of the “Big Three” prospects who reached the major leagues last year. Boston wasn’t afraid to trade Kyle Teel to get Garrett Crochet, but Marte is much older and reportedly has a history of friction in the clubhouse.
The Marte trade may not have been one that Breslow could win outright, despite Marte’s talents on the diamond. Early, Tolle and Mayer could all play a part in Boston’s upcoming season or immediate future and moving them for a player with an unsteady reputation in the clubhouse (one of the Red Sox’s main reasons for the Devers trade) is a big gamble.