The Boston Red Sox aren’t just window shopping this offseason-they’re actively working the phones, and two big names have surfaced in trade conversations: Ketel Marte and Willson Contreras.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has made it clear that adding a potent bat is a top priority, and both Marte and Contreras fit that bill in different but intriguing ways.
Let’s start with Marte. The Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman is one of the most complete hitters available on the trade market right now.
He’s a switch-hitter with serious pop from both sides of the plate, and he’s coming off yet another strong season. In 2025, he launched 28 homers in just 124 games-numbers that jump off the page for a middle infielder.
And this isn’t a one-year wonder. Marte has gone deep at least 25 times in each of the last three seasons and finished third in NL MVP voting in 2024, a year in which he set career highs in both home runs (36) and RBIs (95).
That’s elite-level production from a premium position.
Defensively, Marte holds his own at second base, and his ability to play up the middle adds even more value to his profile. He’s a three-time All-Star and a two-time Silver Slugger, and while his contract runs through his age-37 season, it’s structured in a way that wouldn’t handcuff Boston financially down the road.
In other words, there’s risk-as there always is with long-term deals-but it’s a calculated one. And for a Red Sox team looking to re-establish itself in a loaded AL East, Marte could be the kind of impact bat that changes the dynamic of the lineup overnight.
On the other side of the rumor mill is Willson Contreras. The St.
Louis Cardinals catcher-who’s also logged innings at first base and in the corner outfield-is reportedly drawing interest from Boston as well. According to recent reports, the Red Sox have “significant interest” in the 33-year-old, though nothing is imminent just yet.
Still, it’s a situation worth watching.
Contreras brings a different kind of value. He’s a veteran presence with postseason experience and a track record of consistent offensive production.
He’s hit at least 20 home runs in four of the last five seasons, including 2025 when he drove in a career-high 80 runs. That kind of thump from a catcher-or a utility corner bat-can be a game-changer, especially in Fenway Park, where right-handed hitters can feast on the Green Monster.
Contreras is also a three-time All-Star with a decade of big-league experience under his belt. He’s not the same defensive stalwart behind the plate he once was, but his versatility and leadership could be a strong fit for a Red Sox roster that’s still trying to find its identity under Breslow’s front office.
What makes both of these potential targets interesting is how they align with Boston’s current needs. The Red Sox are looking for right-handed power, positional flexibility, and clubhouse leadership.
Marte and Contreras check those boxes in different ways. Marte would be a long-term investment in a middle-of-the-order bat who can anchor second base.
Contreras would be a shorter-term play, but one that could bring immediate offensive impact and veteran savvy.
No deals are done, and talks are still fluid. But the fact that Boston is seriously in the mix for players of this caliber tells us a lot about how aggressive this front office is willing to be. After a few years of retooling and resetting, the Red Sox seem ready to make some noise again.
And if either of these moves comes to fruition, it won’t just be a splash-it’ll be a statement.