According to a new report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Boston Red Sox are no longer expected to pursue Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte in a trade.

The Red Sox, who will be responsible for $33.5 million of the $41.5 million owed to Willson Contreras, are now expected to end trade talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks for 2B Ketel Marte.

The Red Sox had been connected to Marte for the last several weeks, with at one least insider insinuating he felt the Red Sox would be the favorite in the Marte sweepstakes. They acquired Contreras on Sunday in a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.

One question we have

Is ending the pursuit of Marte about the money, or about something else?

Reporting on Monday indicated that the Red Sox are expected to still pursue Alex Bregman or Bo Bichette in free agency. Both of them will command significantly more money that Marte's remaining five-year, $92.5 million deal.

So, the money can't be the biggest obstacle, right? Do the Red Sox have concerns about Marte's clubhouse character? Were the Red Sox going to move Marte to first base and now they don't need to because of Contreras's presence?

Or, do the Red Sox not have enough pitching depth now to deal from? 

Boston has dealt substantially from its pitching reservoir this offseason, sending Richard Fitts and Hunter Dobbins to St. Louis, not to mention three other prospects. They also lost Cooper Criswell.

At the moment, the Sox still have Garrett Crochet, Johan Oviedo, Sonny Gray, Brayan Bello, Patrick Sandoval, Kyle Harrison, Payton Tolle and Connelly Early. That's eight solid options for the rotation, but do the Red Sox really want to dip even further into that to acquire Marte? The Diamondbacks reportedly want major league talent for Marte, and the Red Sox just might not want to part with the likes of Tolle, Early or Harrison at this point. In most seasons, even eight good starters will not be enough for a team to navigate the challenges of a 162-game season.

Tanner Houck is out for the season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

MORE RED SOX STORIES:

The options for Triston Casas in the wake of Contreras trade

Former Red Sox 1B Bobby Dalbec heads to Japan

Red Sox swing trade for Willson Contreras

So what now?

If we're right to infer that money is not actually the biggest obstacle, it seems like the Sox should have no problem going after Bregman or Bichette, but it does seem like they are done making trades - at least trades involving major league-ready talent.

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