Another offseason brought the interest-king Boston Red Sox back into the spotlight. After finishing last season with 89 wins and its first playoff berth in four seasons, the team looked poised to add a power threat to its young core. Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow doubled down on that goal Monday at the MLB Winter Meetings:
"We still are going to prioritize someone who can hit in the middle of the order and kind of change the overall outlook of the offense."Craig Breslow. Red Sox CBO
Heading into the offseason, there were a pair of all-stars that sat atop Boston’s wish list: former Red Sox fan-favorite Kyle Schwarber and longtime New York Mets star Pete Alonso. This week, both players signed elsewhere. Schwarber, 32, resigned with the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $150M deal, while Alonso, 31, signed a five-year, $155M deal with the division-rival Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, according to MLB insider Jeff Passan.
With the two best free agent sluggers now off the board, Breslow will need to pivot to alternative options either in free agency or via trade. Two potential acquisitions that would move the needle for the team are Arizona Diamondbacks’ second baseman Ketel Marte and former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette. According to reports, Boston has already discussed Marte with Arizona and is interested in prying Bichette away from the division-rival Blue Jays.
Ketel Marte, 2B
Ketel Marte, 32, is the best second baseman in all of baseball. The last three seasons in the desert, he has amassed a 16.0 WAR and has been a consistent run producer, hitting at least 25 home runs with 72 RBIs in each of those campaigns. Aside from his middle-of-the-order bat, Marte is a plus fielder, committing only 19 errors in 1,528 total chances during that time span.
As an elite all-around player, Marte would command a significant return headlined by starting pitching. Luckily, under Breslow, the Red Sox have a deep system of young and controllable starters that could entice Arizona into shipping their star up to Boston.
Bo Bichette, SS
Like Ketel Marte, Bo Bichette is a middle infielder, although he has spent most of his career at shortstop. But of all the names mentioned, Bichette, 27, is the one just entering his prime.
Fresh off a World Series appearance with Toronto, Bichette proved he can anchor a lineup, hitting .311 with 18 home runs and 94 RBIs. After missing some time late in the season, Bichette was even better in the World Series, hitting .348 with a homer and six RBIs. While Boston would not have to part ways with any of its prospects or players, it would require a massive contract. During recent years, the Red Sox have been reluctant to sign players to large contracts, but given the age and production, Bichette would be the perfect player to grow alongside the team’s emerging young core.
What’s Next for Red Sox?
As the Winter Meetings start to wrap up, the Boston Red Sox still have a glaring need for a run-producing bat to add to last year's lineup. If last year’s third baseman, Alex Bregman, decides to sign elsewhere, that need only becomes more urgent.
Tomorrow is never promised in baseball, and Red Sox fans are hungry for results. If Breslow can re-sign Bregman and pair him with either Marte or Bichette, the lineup will quickly become one of the league’s best. With continued growth from their young position players, supported by established all-star leadership, the 2026 Boston Red Sox would have a legitimate chance to supplant the Toronto Blue Jays as the American League’s next World Series representative.