Should Red Sox Trade For Ketel Marte After Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber Whiffs?

The Boston Red Sox have already made a few trades this offseason, but have not had much success in free agency so far.

The Red Sox were reportedly interested in both Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber this winter, but Alonso ended up agreeing to a deal with the Baltimore Orioles, and Schwarber is staying in Philadelphia. Craig Breslow has noted the team’s desire to add power to the lineup, and with Alonso and Schwarber off the board, they need to pivot.

One name the Red Sox have surprisingly been linked to over the last few days is Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks. MLB insider Bob Nightengale predicted the Red Sox would trade for him this winter.

While Marte would help the Red Sox fill their need for power, he may not be the best fit, at least not right now. He has 64 home runs in the last two seasons and has won two Silver Sluggers. However, he would further complicate a crowded infield.

Marte plays second base. The issue with that is Alex Bregman is still reportedly the Red Sox’s top priority, which means Marcelo Mayer could be playing second base when the season starts. Additionally, Boston has Kristian Campbell, who is already signed to an extension, as an option at second base.

The infield already has too many mouths to feed. Perhaps that could change if the Red Sox cannot pull off a new deal with Bregman, but as of right now, it seems there is no way to play Marte without keeping Campbell or Mayer off the field.

While Marte is an offensive upgrade over both, Boston has plenty invested in Mayer and Campbell. Marte is under club control for five more seasons, so adding him would certainly leave the Red Sox with nowhere to play Campbell or Mayer for the next few years.

The Red Sox are in a tough position when it comes to adding a bat, thanks to their surplus in the outfield as well. They cannot simply plug Marte into the designated hitter spot because that spot will be needed to rotate their extra outfielders and infielders into the lineup.

As of right now, Marte does not quite fit into the lineup. However, as the offseason continues to unfold, that could change. The Red Sox need to add some home run hitters to their lineup, but Marte is not the only option at this point. Boston could explore the international market, where Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto remain unsigned.