Red Sox & Padres Are Perfect, But Impossible, Trade Partners

[Alex Mayes]

The Boston Red Sox are still looking for help somewhere in the infield as spring training gets closer and closer. They are rumored to be in discussions with a number of clubs, including the Astros and Craig Breslow’s favorite trade partner, the Cardinals, but as of this writing there is very little movement that has been made known to the public. While it’s entirely possible a trade could be completed before spring training begins, we also have to prepare for the possibility that this is the roster that will be on the field come Opening Day. It’s a shame that there’s one team that makes all the sense in the world for the Red Sox to make a trade with, but due to financial concerns on both sides, it’s incredibly unlikely that anything will get done.

The San Diego Padres match up so well to get a deal done, but there’s just not a financial way to make any trade make sense. The Padres are ripe with infield talent, and likely would be willing to part with one of them to acquire a young, controllable starting pitcher. The Sox are arguably the deepest team in the league when it comes to that side of the deal. Both teams though, are looking to make deals to lessen their payroll and tax bill for this season. Should the Red Sox be interested in someone like Jake Cronenworth? Absolutely. He plays solid defense, logged time at three infield positions in 2025, doesn’t strike out a ton, and walks even more. The downside? He’s about halfway through a seven-year extension with the Padres and would add money to a payroll that already appears to be at its limit.

We’d all love to see Xander Bogaerts back in Boston, but if you’ve forgotten, he’s signed through 2033 and has an AAV of $25.3 million. Sure, the Padres could be convinced to pay some of that down to sweeten the deal — GM AJ Preller has long coveted Jarren Duran — but their budget constraints are even worse than the Red Sox's, and if Breslow made a deal like that, then it’s likely John Henry and the rest of Fenway Sports Group would be searching for yet another President of Baseball Operations. What about Manny Machado to man the hot corner? Aside from the level of vitriol that still pours out of most Sox fans when his name is spoken, his contract is nuts. He’s also signed through 2033 with an AAV of $31.82 million. There’s just no way to pay either of those deals down enough or add enough pieces from the Padres’ already-depleted farm system to make any kind of trade make sense.

The Red Sox are heading into a crucial season. The 2026 team is likely better than its 2025 counterpart due to the fact that the rotation has been upgraded so extensively. Willson Contreras is an upgrade at first base, but a lateral move (at best) in the lineup after the loss of Alex Bregman. Making a deal for an infielder is going to get tougher as we get closer to spring training, without a doubt. It’s a shame that the financial side of things can’t match up with the Padres, because they have a few options that would make the Red Sox objectively better this season.

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[TC11]

I keep thinking that there has to be a way to get Ketel Marte.  Red Sox have so much pitching depth and outfield depth, that there has to be a way.  What would it cost Boston to get Ketel Marte and Zac Gallen?  I would start with Duran (like him, but he can be moved), Bello (younger than Gallen by 4 years), Campbell (he could be really good, but...), and either Early or Tolle. (Or make that same offer to Cleveland for Jose Ramirez?)