With the Boston Red Sox losing Alex Bregman in free agency to the Chicago Cubs, they have a big hole in their lineup to fill. USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale went on the Foul Territory podcast and suggested Boston revive talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks regarding Ketel Marte.
“I know the Diamondbacks said ‘Hey, we’re not trading Ketel Marte,’ but would it surprise anyone in Spring Training if the Red Sox came back and say ‘You know what, we’d be willing to give you this. We weren’t going to give it to you before, we’ll give it to you now’. I can’t believe the door is completely shut on the Marte trade talks.”
That clip was played during the 3 o’clock hour of Burns & Gambo‘s January 15 show for Arizona Sports. Co-host John Gambadoro quickly ruled out that possibility, saying the door is shut based on the conversations he had with the Diamondbacks.
“I don’t think that [Diamondbacks general manager] Mike Hazen would have that conversation with Ketel Marte on the phone, and Marte is here now, come in from the Dominican Republic, you meet, ‘OK, we’ve shut the door, we’re moving on,’ and then a week later go back on your word. I don’t think that’s the way Mike Hazen does business.”
Once his 10-and-5 rights kick in on April 6, Marte can veto any trade.
Where Do the Red Sox Go for a Bat?
With Marte no longer available, the Red Sox need to look elsewhere find a bat to replace Bregman. While Boston quickly pivoted toward Ranger Suarez, they still have a hole at third base.
After they signed Bregman, the Cubs have received calls on both Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw. However, it doesn’t appear they’ll move either infielder. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers that they’ll consider moving Shaw to the outfield.
Free agency isn’t an appealing situation for Boston. Bo Bichette is the top infielder remaining, but they could be in a bidding war with the Philadelphia Phillies. In the event the Red Sox miss out on Bichette, Philadelphia would have to trade an infielder. That could mean potentially targeting Alec Bohm or Bryson Stott as a short-term band-aid.
Another free agent option would be Eugenio Suarez. Suarez was an All-Star in 2025 for the Mariners and Diamondbacks, slashing .228/.298/.526 with 49 home runs and a 126 OPS+.
While he’s not as reliable a bat as Bregman, his swing is geared for Fenway Park. The right-handed bat posted a pulled air rate of 28.6% over the last two seasons when he makes contact. However, he struggled defensively to the tune of -6 Defensive Runs Saved and -8 Outs Above Average at third.
If they want to explore the trade market, the Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan or the Astros‘ Isaac Paredes make the most sense. Both come with shorter control, allowing them to develop Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell without pressure. But Campbell signed a $60 million extension last season, so there will be pressure to get him on the field.
Arizona Radio Host Pushes Back on Red Sox Reviving Ketel Marte Talks