Red Sox Projected To Trade For Infielder After Passing On Eugenio Suarez

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow still has some work to do ahead of spring training. That’s according to The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey, who reported on Breslow’s potential targets after the Red Sox failed to sign third baseman Eugenio Suarez.

“The Boston Red Sox are still looking to acquire an infielder, and they created salary and roster space on Sunday by shipping out one of the three players they got in June’s Rafael Devers trade,” McCaffrey wrote.

“One team source indicated a preference for Marcelo Mayer at third base, which suggests the club is targeting a second baseman for its infield opening,” McCaffrey added.

Suarez was the best free-agent infielder still available on the open market but he signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

That means it’s likely that Breslow will turn to the trade market if he wants to add an impact infielder.

“The Arizona Diamondbacks determined in January that they wouldn’t trade Ketel Marte, but the three-time All-Star would fit what Boston is looking for as a Silver Slugger-winning second baseman who can adequately field the position,” McCaffrey noted. “Ten days into the 2026 season, Marte will gain 10 years of service, five consecutive with the same club, giving him the right to veto any trade. He’ll make $15 million next season in the second year of a six-year, $105 million deal.

“Another option could be St. Louis Cardinals All-Star Brendan Donovan, whom the Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants were reportedly targeting in December, though the Cardinals were looking for multiple top prospects in return,” McCaffrey reported.

“Donovan is the best trade asset remaining for the Cardinals, and although they’re not looking to trade him, they will if they get the right return,”
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden reported. “I’ve been told by several executives the asking price is too high to consider at this point, but that could drop between now and Opening Day.

“Donovan has a career .361 OBP and will add significant traffic to any lineup,” Bowden added. “He’s also very versatile and has played all infield and corner outfield positions in the major leagues during his career.

“He’s well-known for all the baseball cliches we like to throw at players like, ‘gamer,’ ‘dirt bag,’ ‘winner’ and ‘scrappy.’ He fits with every team in baseball, including the Cardinals, who aren’t trading him unless they can ‘win’ the trade, Bowden concluded.

“The Red Sox are known to be prioritizing defense and contact as they look to fill out their infield with trade targets Isaac Paredes (Astros), Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw (Cubs) and others potentially in play,” Masslive.com’s Chris Cotillo and Lauren Campbell reported.

Whatever Breslow plans on doing, he better do it soon. Pitchers and catchers report to Red Sox spring training in Fort Myers, Fla. in eight days.