Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte has been involved in MLB trade rumors the entire offseason. Marte has been linked to several teams; however, the Boston Red Sox have been one of the main teams in the mix. So, what is the latest on the 32-year-old’s potential trade to Boston?
The Red Sox are “not close” to a trade for Marte, as the Diamondbacks appear likely to deal the second baseman, as reported by WEEI’s Rob Bradford. Boston entered the MLB offseason looking for a middle-of-order bat to elevate the offense, but it hasn’t landed a big-name player yet.
Despite strong pushes for Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber, the Red Sox were unable to sign either from MLB free agency. Now, Boston is running out of options. The organization needs to bring back free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman and find another bat for the lineup.
Mock trade for Ketel Marte to the Boston Red Sox
If the Red Sox land Marte this offseason, they will have to give up “young major-league ready players,” as reported by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Therefore, Boston might be forced to give up starting pitchers Connelly Early or Payton Tolle if it wants to entice Arizona.
The Red Sox could afford to keep Early or Tolle, but they would likely have to give up Brayan Bello. The Diamondbacks would have Bello under team control for five more years, but his contract would end at around $21 million. That might not be intriguing due to the payroll.
If Arizona has an even higher asking price, the Red Sox could be forced to include infielder Marcelo Mayer along with a young pitcher. However, Boston may be more willing to include outfielders Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu, as the organization has a logjam at the positions.
Ultimately, a Red Sox offer centered around Early and Duran might be enough to acquire Marte from the Diamondbacks. Marte would be an amazing addition for the Red Sox, but it is all about the assets. If Boston is willing to give up two key pieces, it could close the gap for Marte soon.
