Solving second base: Red Sox trade targets
It's been a consistent belief that Boston will likely look to the trade market to solve its second base issue. The only question is who's out there?
In a position player group largely figured out already, second base remains a major question mark.
Presently constructed, the two MLB double-play partners with Trevor Story are Enmanuel Valdez and Pablo Reyes. While there’s certainly a lot to like about each individually, as well as platoon possibilities, it’s believed the team would like to aim higher — at least defensively.
With a weak free-agent pool of middle infielders this winter, the only conceivable means to improve the position would be via trade.
However, since the Tyler O’Neill acquisition already took place, it’s hard to see a world where Boston re-opens trade negotiations with St. Louis involving utilityman Tommy Edman, whom I believed to be the best option.
This begs the question: Who could it be? That’s what I’ll lay out here: a few trade targets that make sense for Boston, though maybe haven’t been discussed as possibilities yet.
Noelvi Marte — Cincinnati Reds
Marte makes a ton of sense on both sides of a prospective deal.
The Reds need controllable and young starting pitching and the Red Sox need to bolster their infield defense while adding power.
The 22-year-old was heralded as the prize in a deal that sent right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo to the Seattle Mariners in 2022. At the time of the trade, he was a high average, even higher on-base machine with sneaky power.
While he hasn’t quite filled out into a true home run threat yet, he’s still incredibly young with only 44 days of MLB service time under his belt.
The catch-22 on him, however, is the fact he’s had just one professional inning played at second base. While I believe he’s athletically sound enough to make the switch on the fly, there’s certainly no guarantee.
But why does this trade make sense for the Reds? After all, he’s one of, if not the most controllable young asset they have.
Well, at the risk of oversimplifying a rather complex question, they need pitching more than they need another young infielder. After signing corner infielder Jeimer Candelario to a five-year deal recently, an already deep Reds infield became even deeper.
Marte, Candelario, Jonathan India, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Matt McClain, Elly de la Cruz and Spencer Steer — that’s seven infielders taking up four spots plus the designated hitter. Someone has to be the odd man out.
Let’s Make a Deal!
Reds get: RHPs Tanner Houck, Wikelman Gonzalez (No. 9 org prospect) and Bryan Mata (28)
Red Sox get: IF Noelvi Marte
Mauricio Dubón — Houston Astros
Isn’t it funny how things work out sometimes?
Throwback to the 2017-18 offseason when the Red Sox dealt corner infielder Travis Shaw and Dubón for reliever Tyler Thornburg.
Now, six years later, the 29-year-old makes a ton of sense as a stopgap at the second base position.
Dubón isn’t the greatest bat in the world, especially from a power standpoint — just 28 homers in over 300 games. However, he was a plus-five DRS defender at second base last year while playing games at six other positions.
He also has two additional years of arbitration eligibility beyond 2024, making him the perfect stopgap/utilityman tweener the Red Sox need to bridge the gap to some of their top prospects.
Let’s Make a Deal!
Astros get: RHPs Mauricio Llovera and Chih-Jung Liu (No. 54) and SS Cutter Coffey (No. 37)
Red Sox get: UTIL Mauricio Dubón
Brendan Rodgers — Colorado Rockies
The 27-year-old Rodgers is only a year removed from 22 DRS at second base in his only season with at least 750 defensive innings.
Unfortunately for him, injuries derailed his 2023 campaign and he, before that, hasn’t quite put it all together with the stick.
However, between 2021 and 2022, he slashed .274/.326/.434 with 51 doubles, 28 homers and 5.7 rWAR in just under 1,000 plate appearances.
I’m not too sure whether or not the Rockies would be open to dealing him, but there’s reasonable belief it’s possible. After all, they have Ezequiel Tovar and Ryan McMahon already as a potential double-play pair, with the likes of Alan Trejo as depth and top prospect Adael Amador not terribly far away from making an MLB impact.
For the Red Sox, Rodgers would come one additional year of arbitration eligibility.
Let’s Make a Deal!
Rockies get: IF Chase Meidroth (No. 13), LHP Brandon Walter (No. 32) and UTIL Bobby Dalbec
Red Sox get: 2B Brendan Rodgers
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