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Insider Urges Red Sox Pursue Trade For Three-Time All-Star Infielder originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox have had one obvious flaw this season, as their offense has consistently struggled to score runs.
Boston's pitching and defense have been the team's strong points this season, but the offense continues to struggle. The Red Sox's offense ranks toward the bottom of the league, with only 222 runs scored, and lacks power, mashing the second-fewest home runs in the league.
The Red Sox have already begun calling around the league to see which players will be available ahead of the trade deadline, and Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald urged the team to pursue the Arizona Diamondbacks' three-time All-Star infielder Ketel Marte.
"The offense has been so bad that the club often has to play perfect baseball just to have a chance," Cerullo wrote on Sunday. "In theory, that should be a straightforward fix. The Red Sox need bats, and as luck would have it they have at least two infield spots where any addition could plug right into the lineup. Who could the Red Sox target?
"The most impactful infielder who could feasibly be traded is Arizona’s Ketel Marte, who was on the trade block this offseason but ultimately wasn’t moved. The second baseman is a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger who has topped 25 home runs in each of his last three seasons, and he was recently named National League Player of the Week. Marte is also a switch-hitter and would immediately become Boston’s biggest power threat."
Marte is in the middle of another solid season after being named an All-Star in each of the past two seasons, slashing .266/.321/.459 with nine home runs and 32 runs batted in. The 32-year-old is under contract through the 2030 season, with a player option for 2031, and would give the Red Sox a massive upgrade offensively.
The playoffs are still in reach for the Red Sox, and trading for a star like Marte may be just what the team needs down the stretch.
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