There is just over a month of offseason remaining before spring training begins and the 2026 MLB season comes into view. The Boston Red Sox still haven't completed their lineup by adding another infielder.
The Red Sox have seemingly been connected to every top option available at one point or another, but their markets have been stagnant through the new year. Boston is the only team that hasn't signed a major league free agent, but it still looked into infield trade options like Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte.
But the Sox won't land Marte to solve their infield woes. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic on January 9 reported that the Diamondbacks no longer plan to trade Marte (subscription required). There had been previous rumblings that any discussions were taking too long for their taste and that they planned to take him off the market to focus on their own offseason pursuits, and they've decided to pull the trigger.
Marte's removal from the market brings both good and bad news to Boston. Many Sox fans thought of Marte as their preferred infield target — he's a beacon of consistency at the plate, he ranks in the upper quartile of the league in strikeout and walk rate, he has 20-30 home run power, he's a top-tier defender and fills a position of need at second base.
Diamondbacks no longer plan to trade Ketel Marte — conflicting news for the Red Sox
Despite his fit with the Red Sox, the front office was unwilling to meet Arizona's price to complete a trade. The Diamondbacks reportedly sought top young pitching in exchange for Marte, and top Sox prospects Connelly Early and Payton Tolle came up in conversations. There were also rumors that the D-Backs coveted Marcelo Mayer, whom Boston refused to give up.
On the other hand, maintaining Marte could take Arizona out of the Bregman market — or at least make it a much less aggressive contender. In their report, Rosenthal and Maria Torres mention that there is a chance the Diamondbacks could hold onto Marte and still sign Bregman, but they're more focused on adding relievers and a first baseman.
If the Diamondbacks are out on Bregman, the Red Sox will be one of the last teams standing in his market. The Blue Jays may be pulling back from Bregman after they signed corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto, leaving the Red Sox and the Cubs among his suitors.
If Boston and Chicago are the only two teams remaining in the Bregman race, the Red Sox have no excuse for not signing him. Yes, the Cubs are a fellow big market team with more than enough money to sign Bregman, but the Red Sox are equally equipped to give him the deal he wants, especially because they've saved money by addressing their other needs on the trade market.