On Saturday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe wrote a piece detailing why the Red Sox have been reluctant to include 23-year-old infielder Marcelo Mayer throughout the trade talks they’ve had this hot stove season thus far.

But after whiffs in free agency with Kyle Schwarber re-signing in Philadelphia and Pete Alonso signing in Baltimore (the latter far worse than the former), Boston might have to get more uncomfortable than they would like to acquire high-end talent in the trade market, with the pool of top-level free agents shrinking by the day.

Here’s what Speier had to say about Mayer:

“Dating [back] to last offseason, Mayer seemingly occupied a different category than Roman Anthony. The Sox have shown reluctance to deal him, but haven’t treated his unavailability as an absolute. The door is barely cracked but not slammed shut.

“Is that enough to think Mayer will be moved this offseason? Certainly not. But if Mayer is the difference between the team adding an elite talent this winter or not, the conversation about a heralded prospect could get interesting.”

Speier raised the idea of including Mayer in a package for Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte - a three-time All-Star and twice a top-five NL MVP vote-getter across his 11-year career.

As of Friday, I had Marte ranked third on my list of top eight offensive offseason targets for Boston. And at 32 years old, I believe there’s plenty of good baseball left in him, where trading Mayer’s upside is worth the return of Marte in the heart of his prime years.

Marte slashed .283/.376/.517 with an .893 OPS, 28 home runs, 72 RBI, and 87 runs scored over 126 games, earning a Silver Slugger and his third career All-Star nod thanks to his all-around bat.

What makes Marte such a coveted target for Boston is the complete offense he brings.

He combines a high average (.283), elite on-base skills (.376 - best among MLB second basemen), and power rarely seen at his position. That unique combination is rare for MLB clubs. He fits comfortably into lineup spots 2 through 6 and can cover center in a pinch, providing the Sox with versatility beyond a typical free agent signing.

In a division where pitching is tough and extra baserunners are at a premium, Marte’s well-rounded game - especially his ability to sustain both average and power - would help Boston bridge the gap left by the Schwarber/Alonso misses and provide a crucial offensive ripple effect throughout the order.

There’s a reason why this guy is high on everyone’s list.

In addition to the production, Marte has one of the more affordable contracts for a player of his caliber in all of baseball - $102.5 million guaranteed over the next six years, including a player option for 2031, with $46 million deferred. For an organization that has reportedly given itself self-imposed spending limits this offseason, those types of numbers are music to Boston’s ears.

Not only is Marte special, but he’s also relatively "cheap." Mayer, meanwhile, offers great size, versatility, and excellent bat speed, but is still more of a projection than the known commodity Marte provides.

Mayer has averaged just 83 games per year across four pro seasons, further highlighting his high-risk, high-reward prospect status.

Young players who show flashes of brilliance are tough to move, especially after fans have seen those moments at the major league level. His standout highlights - defensive plays, a two-homer game against the Rays, and a first career homer in a key game at Yankee Stadium - gave fans reasons to be excited during his 44 games with the big league club. However, his .228 batting average and .674 OPS, in my view, are not impressive enough to make him an untouchable prospect.

MORE RED SOX STORIES:

Red Sox Top 8 Remaining Offseason Offensive Targets

Royals Reportedly Discuss Trading For Jarren Duran

Red Sox Reportedly Offered Pete Alonso 3-year deal worth $85 million

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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.