Ketel Marte to Boston: unlikely after the acquisition of Willson Contreras

The Boston Red Sox have acquired the services of Willson Contreras. What's next?

In the short term, Boston fans will continue to hope that Alex Bregman stays in town. After all, Contreras adds offense, but he doesn't stabilize the left side of the infield.

The Red Sox have created a financial path for a big move. Alex Bregman should be their first choice. Column: https://t.co/AKykk2pjgH

– Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 22, 2025

Either way, the Red Sox need a forward, and it's likely to come via the free agent market. Why? Because the club probably won't want to give away any more pitchers.

Craig Breslow is probably in a position to give (some) money. But youngsters?

Three pitchers, including Hunter Dobbins, have gone to St. Louis for Contreras. Digging even deeper (which is starting to look good) on the mound is not desirable for Boston's future.

That's why, at the moment, the buzz is that the Red Sox are no longer in the running for Ketel Marte. We know that the DBacks player, who could end up going to Tampa Bay, is going to cost a lot of money in pitching.

Not ruling it out but: to me, that deal is going to require Early or Tolle, which was tough to swallow before trading Dobbins and even harder now. https://t.co/69kaBqfKcy

– Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 22, 2025

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.

– Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 22, 2025

The Contreras deal is bad news for the Diamondbacks. Not only do they lose some leverage in the Marte negotiations by seeing a big club exit the race, but it also puts Boston (more than ever) at the heart of the Bregman file.

We'll see how it all plays out over the next few weeks, but the Red Sox and Cardinals have just stirred the pot.

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