Red Sox Trade Target, Perennial MVP Candidate, ‘Still On The Table’
Craig Breslow is looking to upgrade the Red Sox's offense
Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s pursuit of a bat continues, as do the rumors connecting the club to one of the best hitters on the trade market.
“Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte is still on the table in a trade, as is St. Louis first baseman Willson Contreras,” The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey reports.
“On paper, the Red Sox and Diamondbacks represent a promising match,” the Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reports.
“Marte would give the Sox an elite right-handed hitter with power (28 homers last year in 124 games) who grades as a solid defensive option at an up-the-middle position. Though his contract runs through his age-37 season, it’s modest enough that it wouldn’t be a roster-building iceberg if his production craters late in the deal,” Speier adds.
“The Red Sox, Blue Jays and Mariners are among the teams interested in Marte, who can block trades to five teams. The Athletic reported those teams are the Athletics, Yankees, Pirates, Giants and Cardinals,” MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports.
Marte is a three-time All-Star with a pair of Silver Slugger Awards on his resume.
He’s hit at least 25 home runs in each of the last three seasons and finished third in voting for the 2024 National League MVP Award. That year, he set career highs in home runs (36) and RBIs (95).
In 2025, Marte finished 22nd in MVP voting.
As for Contreras, The Athletic’s Katie Woo reported Saturday on a potential trade with Boston.
“The Red Sox have significant interest in Contreras, and the clubs have plenty of familiarity with each other. No deal is close, per a team source, but the connection is worth monitoring over the next several days,” Woo wrote.
The 33-year-old Contreras is a three-time All-Star. Primarily a catcher, he’s also played first base and both corner outfield spots during his 10-year MLB career.
He’s hit at least 20 home runs in four of the last five years, including 2025 when he set a career high with 80 RBIs.
After whiffing on Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alsono in free agency, Contreras and/or Marte would provide the Red Sox with a much-needed power bat.
They also would provide an insurance policy of sorts should the Red Sox fail to re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman.
