The Boston Red Sox are making it clear this winter: they’re not sitting back and waiting for the market to come to them. After striking out on free-agent power bats like Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber, the front office has shifted gears.
The focus now? The trade market - and specifically, adding a big-time bat to bolster the lineup.
Boston’s already been busy on the pitching front, pulling off several trades in recent weeks to strengthen their rotation and bullpen. But now, attention is turning to the other side of the ball. The Red Sox are casting a wide net, and the list of names they’ve been linked to reads like a who’s who of versatile, high-upside hitters: Ketel Marte, Isaac Paredes, Willson Contreras, Brendan Donovan, and even, to a lesser extent, Corey Seager.
According to MLB Network, Chris Cotillo reports that Boston has been active in trade talks across the league. “They have been in, over the last week, trade talks for Paredes in Houston, Donovan and Contreras in St.
Louis, Marte in Arizona, and to a lesser extent, Seager,” Cotillo said. “They’re aiming for these big-time position players… There are a lot of guys that still could be had.”
That’s not just due diligence - that’s aggressive pursuit. And it makes sense.
The Red Sox know they need more offensive firepower if they want to compete in what’s shaping up to be a brutally competitive AL East. They’ve already shown a willingness to deal, and now they’re setting their sights higher.
Among all the names being floated, Ketel Marte stands out as a particularly strong fit. Cotillo highlighted Marte as the best match for Boston’s needs - a switch-hitting, middle-of-the-order threat who brings defensive versatility and a track record of consistent production. “I think Marte is kind of the perfect fit for them in terms of the closest thing to a complete player,” Cotillo said.
But as is often the case with players of Marte’s caliber, the price won’t be cheap. Arizona isn’t under pressure to move him - he’s still under contract for five more years on a team-friendly deal.
That gives the Diamondbacks leverage, and it means any team wanting to pry him loose will have to pay up. “It’s gonna take a lot,” Cotillo said.
“I think it has to start with at least one pretty good Major League-ready starter… It’s gonna have to hurt.”
Translation: if Boston wants Marte, they’ll need to part with real value - likely from their young pitching depth or top prospects. That’s a tough pill to swallow, but potentially a necessary one if the Red Sox want to land a player who can change the complexion of their lineup.
Of course, Boston’s interest isn’t exclusive. Other teams are reportedly in the mix for Marte as well, and Arizona is in no rush to move him. That means the Red Sox aren’t just negotiating with the Diamondbacks - they’re also competing with the rest of the league.
WEEI’s Rob Bradford reported that there’s “nothing close” on a Marte trade at the moment, so while the Red Sox are clearly doing their homework, a deal doesn’t appear imminent. Still, the offseason is far from over, and Boston has time - and motivation - to make something happen.
Whether it’s Marte or another impact bat, one thing is clear: the Red Sox are swinging big. And if they land one of their targets, it could reshape the lineup - and the outlook - for 2026.