If the Red Sox opt to trade for a hitter, who could be some of their options?

The Pink Sox have been linked to a few of the high hitters in free company this offseason, like Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, and Munetaka Murakami. In fact, they’re additionally strongly within the combine to re-sign Alex Bregman.

However they may enhance their lineup by way of commerce, too. Actually, The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier recently reported that he suspects the Pink Sox received’t signal two of “premium” bats in free company this offseason, however may look so as to add a complementary bat along with signing a type of aforementioned gamers.

If that’s the case, perhaps the Pink Sox flip to the commerce market so as to add a complementary bat. If that’s the case, let’s check out seven attainable hitters the Pink Sox may go after based mostly on commerce rumors and hypothesis in latest weeks.

Willson Contreras, 1B, Cardinals

Contreras is one in all a handful of gamers whom insiders assume the Cardinals may transfer on from this offseason, with The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo reporting that earlier in November. Former Pink Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom now runs the Cardinals’ baseball operations as effectively, so there could possibly be a pure match there for a commerce as Bloom helped construct Boston’s farm system.

The 33-year-old right-handed hitter has been a fairly constant hitter since his days with the Cubs. Conteras’s batting common has largely hovered round .260 and he’s hit at the least 20 house runs in 5 of the final six seasons (2020 season excluded), however has by no means hit 25 house runs in a season.

After spending nearly all of his first 9 seasons at catcher, Conteras turned the Cardinals’ full-time first baseman final yr. He had 4 Outs Above Common final yr, per Baseball Savant, making him a plus defender on the place.

Contreras is below contract for the following two seasons and is owed $36.5 million in complete cash. He additionally has a $17.5 million group possibility for the 2028 season. So, his contract is definitely palatable.

Yandy Diaz, 1B, Rays

The Pink Sox already made a run for Diaz forward of the commerce deadline in July, with the Rays in the end deciding to maintain him for the homestretch of the season.

So, why not give Tampa one other name on Diaz this offseason? He’s solely below contract for another yr, so he is perhaps extra expendable now than he was again in July.

The 34-year-old right-handed hitter has been in a position to hit for common with some energy over the previous couple of seasons. Diaz posted a .300 batting common in 2025, marking the fourth straight yr he’s had a batting common of at the least .280.

When it comes to energy, Diaz’s 25 homers final season had been a profession excessive. He additionally hit 22 house runs in 2023, when he posted a .330 batting common to complete sixth in AL MVP voting.

Ketel Marte, 2B, Diamondbacks

Marte’s one of many high names rumored to be on the commerce market this offseason, with USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale floating the possibility earlier in November.

If the Pink Sox had been in a position to land Marte, he is perhaps the very best hitter of their lineup, even when they had been to re-sign Bregman. The three-time All-Star has been one of many recreation’s second basemen over the previous couple of years, ending third within the NL MVP vote in 2024 with a .292 batting common and 36 house runs.

Final, the switch-hitting Marte hit .283 with a .893 OPS and 28 house runs in 126 video games. He simply turned 32 in October and is below contract by at the least the 2030 season, holding a $15 million wage for 2026. Marte’s wage takes a slight dip in 2027 ($12 million) earlier than climbing as much as at the least $20 million within the following three seasons. He may additionally earn as much as $5.5 million in incentives per yr over the length of his contract based mostly on plate appearances and MVP voting.

So, Marte would in all probability be the costliest participant to commerce for on this checklist contemplating that his contract is fairly cheap for a participant of his caliber.

Brandon Lowe, 2B, Rays

Perhaps the Rays don’t need to commerce their high hitter to a division rival, however Lowe sits in an analogous spot as Diaz coming into the offseason. He’s additionally coming into the ultimate yr of his contract and is on the unsuitable facet of 30 (he’ll flip 32 in July).

So, it wouldn’t damage the Pink Sox to at the least inquire in regards to the All-Star second baseman. Lowe hit .256 with .785 OPS, 31 house runs, and 83 RBIs in 134 video games final season. It marked the fourth time within the final 5 seasons that Lowe has hit at the least 20 homers, so he would offer so much-needed pop to the Pink Sox’ lineup.

Lowe is a left-handed hitter, which could not essentially match the mould of what Boston is trying so as to add to its lineup this offseason. And he hasn’t been nice in opposition to lefties, both. He has a profession .219 batting common and .695 OPS in opposition to lefties, whereas posting a .194 batting common and .548 OPS in opposition to left-handed pitchers final season.

Brendan Donovan, 2B, Cardinals

Donovan can be among the many names that the Cardinals may presumably be moved this offseason. In contrast to a few of the different choices on this checklist, although, Donovan hasn’t displayed a lot energy. He solely has 40 homers in 492 profession video games, hitting 10 in 118 final season.

However Donovan can be an attractive add for the Pink Sox for a pair of causes. The 28-year-old left-handed hitter can hit for common (.282 profession batting common), and get on base (.361 profession on-base share) fairly effectively. He’s additionally obtained plenty of positional versatility, primarily enjoying second base final season after principally enjoying within the outfield in 2024. However he’s higher utilized at second base, posting seven outs above common over the past two years.

Donovan is below management for 2 extra years and was named an All-Star for the primary time final season. So, buying and selling for him may include a heftier value than a few of the different choices on this checklist. However perhaps Bloom’s connection to the group and a farm system may assist the Pink Sox land Donovan in the event that they determine to pursue him.

Nolan Arenado, 3B, Cardinals

One other Cardinals participant makes their manner onto the checklist, as Arenado is rumored to be on the commerce block once more this offseason. Actually, the Pink Sox had been linked to Arenado final offseason, with the Cardinals’ third baseman having Boston on the checklist of groups he’d approve a commerce to.

Arenado isn’t the participant that he as soon as was. After being named an All-Star in 9 straight seasons (excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 marketing campaign), Arenado has hit .257 with a .697 OPS and 28 homers over 259 video games over the past two seasons.

The 34-year-old has remained a plus fielder nonetheless, in order that’s a profit. However as there aren’t many different notable free brokers at third base past Bregman, Arenado is perhaps somebody the Pink Sox should choose in the event that they lose their All-Star third baseman in free company.

Alec Bohm, 3B, Phillies

The Phillies aren’t blowing issues up, however Bohm appears to be an affordable commerce candidate this offseason. The 29-year-old is coming into his ultimate yr of group management, and as Philadelphia appears set to be a significant participant in free company once more, it will make sense to get forward of Bohm’s attainable departure by buying and selling him now.

Bohm has logged a batting common of at the least .270 and an OPS of at the least .710 in every of the final 4 seasons. However the right-handed hitter hasn’t proven a lot energy in his profession, reaching the 20 house run mark simply as soon as. He additionally hit 11 house runs in 120 video games final season.