Ketel Marte keeps surfacing as the kind of offseason name that can reshape a lineup, and the Boston Red Sox have been linked to him again as reports continue to point to both interest and possible availability.
That makes Marte a natural trade candidate to watch if Boston decides to get aggressive this winter. Last offseason, he was already one of the biggest names tied to the Red Sox, who were searching for help in the infield. Arizona ultimately kept him, Boston missed out on Alex Bregman, and the club never landed the kind of splash move Marte represented.
Marte’s situation with the Diamondbacks was also described as unusual last year, with some suggesting he had quit on the team at one point during the season. The exact details still aren’t fully clear, but the source of the issue never seemed to get resolved, which only adds to the sense that a move could be possible.
“Last offseason, Marte was one of the biggest names connected to Boston. At the time, the Red Sox were looking for a boost in the infield, but the Diamondbacks didn't end up moving Marte. The Red Sox missed out on Alex Bregman and didn't make a splash with Marte.
“Offensively, Marte would give the Red Sox the boost that they need. If the Red Sox were to make a run at him, Mead could easily be shifted to designated hitter,” Patrick McAvoy wrote.
The fit is easy to see. Marte would give Boston a major offensive jolt, and there’s a real case that he’s one of the best players in the sport.
Even in a year that was viewed as a step down, he still finished with 22 home runs and a 107 OPS+. The season before, he was even better, putting up a 147 OPS+ with 28 homers.
For a Red Sox team looking for help in the infield, Marte would be the kind of addition that changes the look of the whole lineup.
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