‘Tis the season for trade rumors, which are more fun than free agency rumors, IMO, because they’re about more than just money. And here’s one I didn’t see coming: the Diamondbacks are reportedly open to trading all-star second baseman Ketel Marte, with the Red Sox considered to be “on the radar.” The 32-year-old Marte, who has five years remaining on the six-year, $116.5 million deal he signed just last year, slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 homers in 2025. He’d very nicely fill the Red Sox hole at second base, though the DBacks are apparently looking for “lots of pitching” in exchange. (Bob Nightengale, USA Today)
That deal might be a hard one for Craig Breslow to pull off considering that the Red Sox may still be looking for pitching as well. As Jake Roy mentioned this morning, we’re starting to see some smoke around a trade between the Sox and Royals for Cole Ragans. Here’s what our sister site says it would take to get him. Would Jarren Duran and Marcelo Mayer be too much? (Jeremy Greco, Royals Review)
As for free agent rumors, infielder Jorge Polanco, who slashed .265/.326/.495 with 26 homers for the Mariners, is now considered a possibility as well. (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
And while one MLB insider says the Phillies remain the favorites to re-sign slugger Kyle Shwarber, the Red Sox are still “in the mix” along with the Reds and Mets. (Jeff Passan, Threads)
A big bat like Shwarber is reportedly on the Red Sox wish list as they prepare for next week’s winter meetings, though Pete Alonso may be the better fit. (Ian Browne, MLB.com)
On the pitching side of things, we now know that Devin Williams won’t be coming to Boston, though the Sox reportedly looked into him earlier in the offseason. But his signing with the Mets may impact the market for another all-star closer, Edwin Diaz. (Mike Rosenstein, NESN)
As for the big name the Sox have already brought in, Sonny Gray, he met the media today and said all the right things:
