The trade market dried up, the alternatives lack certainty, and Boston’s clearest infield fix remains right in front of them.
As I wrote yesterday - we would be back today with the latest on Alex Bregman. I said it somewhat in jest, and yet here we are, on a day that ends in “y,” discussing the future of the two-time World Series champion.
But before we get to him…
The Red Sox didn’t lose Ketel Marte this offseason.
They lost the idea of him.
For weeks, Marte represented the cleanest solution to one of Boston’s most obvious roster flaws. A switch-hitting All-Star second baseman, under contract long-term, with postseason experience and a manageable luxury-tax number - the kind of player who fit both Craig Breslow’s roster-building philosophy and the urgency of a team trying to win now without overcommitting years down the road.
That door, reportedly, is now closed.
According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Diamondbacks have decided they will not trade Marte this offseason, ending months of speculation that linked him most prominently to Boston.
Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen all but confirmed as much late last month, acknowledging that his “gut this whole time” was that a deal wouldn’t happen.
So where does that leave the Red Sox?
Back where we started this piece:
Alex Bregman.
Re-signing Bregman doesn’t just solve third base, it reshapes the entire infield. It opens the door to moving Marcelo Mayer to second - a transition Boston has clearly been preparing for behind the scenes. It adds a stabilizing presence to the middle of the lineup that the team sorely lacked at times in 2025, when second basemen collectively produced a pedestrian .241/.308/.362 slash line. In theory, Mayer’s upside should give them more production in that spot.
Sep 30, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox third base Alex Bregman (2) reacts after hitting an RBI double during the ninth inning against the New York Yankees during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)MORE RED SOX STORIES:
And critically, it keeps Boston’s roster construction aligned with Breslow’s preference for certainty over projection.
Arizona’s decision to retain Marte appears tied, at least in part, to its own Bregman pursuit.
The Diamondbacks had explored moving Marte to clear money and address pitching needs, but never received a return they deemed sufficient. With Marte set to gain full no-trade protection early in the season, this was likely their last realistic window to move him.
That uncertainty ripples outward - and Boston feels it.
Other contingency plans exist.
Bo Bichette could theoretically be a fit, but he’ll likely be way out of Boston’s price range. Brendan Donovan remains a potential trade target if the Red Sox circle back to St. Louis. Internal options like Romy Gonzalez offer flexibility, but not the kind of lineup-altering certainty that a contender typically seeks.
Bregman does.
That’s why Marte’s removal from the board matters less as a loss and more as a clarifier.
The Red Sox can no longer wait for the “perfect” trade to materialize. If they want to upgrade the infield meaningfully - and do so without leaning heavily on unproven timelines - the most direct path is staring them in the face.
This offseason has been defined by patience and optionality - to an embarrassing level for most of Red Sox Nation.
With Marte staying put, the next move may finally require conviction.
Go get Bregman, guys.
Aug 12, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman (2) throws to first base for an out during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
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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.