Tis the season for corny gimmicks!
With Christmas Eve upon us, it felt only right that we ran through the wish list for Santa for your Boston Red Sox, highlighting three items that some fans might deem as “must-haves” this holiday season.
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And while there are some within Red Sox Nation that are more than content with the additions of Sonny Gray, Johan Oviedo and Wilson Contreras, I think it’s fair to say that most fans are greedy. They’re happy with the toys they’ve unwrapped, but they look at the toys the Orioles and Phillies got and say, “I WANT MORE!”
Some may say that this type of behavior is the result of bad parenting, to which I would say, “Yeah, they’re spoiled. They’ve won four World Series this millennium.”
While Boston’s roster would be able to compete for a playoff spot if the season started tomorrow, they’re still a few key pieces away from truly being a threat to make it back to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2018.
So despite the family making a vocal effort to be budget conscious around the holidays, here’s what Sox fans are looking to have wrapped under the tree on Christmas morning…
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…or at any point before Opening Day 2026:
Alex Bregman
Let’s come out of the gate swinging with an obvious one.
Bregman is like that awesome pair of socks your parents buy you every year. It’s not all that exciting given that you already have had the socks in your possession, and it doesn’t really feel like it’s anything all that new for you.
But make no mistake about it – you need those socks.
The foundation of serviceable, day-to-day outfit is within the undergarments.
If you’ve got holes in your socks and underwear, you’re going to be cold and feel like you’re constantly missing something. They are, without question, the leaders behind the scenes making everything else go.
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As my old high school football O-line used to plagiarize without attribution, “Look good, feel good, play good.”
Go out and get you that awesome pair of socks. You’ll thank yourself later.
Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman fields his position against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, May 14, 2025. (Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images)
Help @ Second Base
I know the rumors for a Ketel Marte trade to Boston have cooled down since the acquisition of Contreras, but that doesn’t mean he still wouldn’t be a fantastic addition to the team.
Earlier this month, I had Marte ranked third on my list of top eight offensive offseason targets for Boston, and I stand by that ranking. At 32 years old, I believe there’s plenty of good baseball left in him, where trading a guy like Marcelo Mayer with incredible upside is worth the return of Marte in the heart of his prime years.
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Marte slashed .283/.376/.517 with an .893 OPS, 28 home runs, 72 RBI, and 87 runs scored over 126 games, earning a Silver Slugger and his third career All-Star nod thanks to his all-around bat.
What makes Marte such a coveted target for Boston is the complete offense he brings.
He combines a high average (.283), elite on-base skills (.376 – best among MLB second basemen), and power rarely seen at his position. That unique combination is rare for MLB clubs. He fits comfortably into lineup spots 2 through 6 and can cover center in a pinch, providing the Sox with versatility beyond a typical free agent signing.
In a division where pitching is tough and extra baserunners are at a premium, Marte’s well-rounded game – especially his ability to sustain both average and power – would help Boston bridge the gap left by the Schwarber/Alonso misses and provide a crucial offensive ripple effect throughout the order.
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There’s a reason why this guy is high on everyone’s list.
In addition to the production, Marte has one of the more affordable contracts for a player of his caliber in all of baseball – $102.5 million guaranteed over the next six years, including a player option for 2031, with $46 million deferred. For an organization that has reportedly given itself self-imposed spending limits this offseason, those types of numbers are music to Boston’s ears.
Not only is Marte special, but he’s also relatively “cheap.”
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ketel Marte (4) scoops up a ground ball against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field in Phoenix, on Sept. 24, 2025. (Joe Rondone/The Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images)
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If it’s not going to be Marte, Brendan Donovan would more than fit the bill as an upgrade at second base.
According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, Boston has discussed a trade with the Cardinals for the infielder/outfielder, and a rival executive believes the Red Sox have “quietly shopped” right-hander Brayan Bello as a part of these discussions.
Interest in Donovan is in line with the two recent trades between the Red Sox and St. Louis, a partnership that has shaped Boston’s offseason. Given recent history, it’s not surprising to see these teams circling one another again – especially with Boston still looking to solidify its infield picture, on top of the fact that they’re now being run by former Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom.
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Like him or not, he’s extremely familiar with the organization, top to bottom. And if likes Bello enough, it might be the key to unlocking Donovan this holiday season.
Donovan, 28, is coming off his first All-Star season, slashing .287/.353/.422 with 10 home runs and 50 RBI across 118 games. His versatility and on-base ability make him an attractive fit for a Red Sox roster searching for stability at several infield spots. With that said, Rosenthal and Sammon wrote that trading for Donovan would likely require the Red Sox to give up more significant assets than they did for Gray or Contreras, and note that no deal is close.
Does that mean moving someone like Payton Tolle or Connelly Early? Is the addition of Donovan, a huge upgrade offensively who also helps you defensively, make moving the upside of one of those two young arms with tons of upside worth it?
Or, does it mean moving someone like Bello – once carrying the same type of hype and prestige that Early and Tolle are carrying as we speak?
Apr 4, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan (33) celebrates after hitting a home run during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. (Paul Rutherford/Imagn Images)
Framber Valdez
OK, now I’m getting greedy.
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For my money, he’s the most dependable ace still available on the free agent market.
Valdez is the type of pitcher who instantly reshapes a rotation the moment he puts on the uniform.
Among the remaining arms on the market, he stands out as the rare free-agent starter who combines top-end production with year-over-year consistency. He’s a heavy ground-ball machine with a deep arsenal, capable of pitching deep into games and neutralizing power hitters – a particularly valuable trait in Fenway Park. And while he got rocked during his lone appearance in Boston in 2025, that was more of the exception for Valdez than the rule.
For the Red Sox, who haven’t had a dominant volume-eating lefty anchor since Jon Lester, Valdez represents the closest thing to a frontline stabilizer remaining.
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With that said, he won’t come cheap. It might be time to open one of those store-specific credit cards and forget about it while things remain interest free the first 18 months.
Valdez’s age, resume, and track record of durability will push his market toward the top of the remaining class. Even if you think 32 years old is too old to be handing out big money to, that’s what the market has been dictating over the past five-or-so years. You pay for the short term gain and you eat the long term pain. That’s the game these true contenders are comfortable playing.
If Boston wants a pitcher who minimizes volatility and provides postseason-caliber reliability, this is the clearest path.
Imagine a rotation of Garrett Crochet, Framber Valdez, Sonny Gray, Johan Oviedo and pick your poison for the No. 5 hole?
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That right there is a World Series-contending starting rotation.
But like anything in this game we love, it just comes down to dollars and cents.
Merry Christmas!
Sep 14, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez (59) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park. (Dale Zanine/Imagn Images)
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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.