With Christmas approaching, the Red Sox finalized a trade with the Cardinals to acquire Willson Contreras , addressing their need at first base. The move made sense for both sides: Boston landed a productive bat coming off a season with a 124 wRC+, while St. Louis added pitching depth and opened the door for Alec Burleson to take on a full-time role.
At first glance, the deal doesn’t appear to involve the Mariners. Seattle was never linked to Contreras or any of the players heading to St. Louis. However, the trade has an indirect ripple effect that benefits the Mariners by removing one major competitor from the market for a key offseason target.
Red Sox Expected to Step Away From Ketel Marte Trade Talks
Following the Contreras deal, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that Boston is no longer pursuing a trade for Ketel Marte. That decision could be tied to the financial commitment required for Contreras or a desire to preserve prospect depth. Either way, it’s welcome news for Seattle, which has long been connected to Marte in trade rumors.
Boston posed a serious threat to the Mariners’ pursuit, as Arizona is reportedly seeking young pitching — an area where the Red Sox are particularly well-stocked. With Boston now out of the picture, Seattle’s pitching assets look even more attractive compared to those of other interested teams.
That said, Arizona does not appear close to finalizing a deal for its star second baseman. If Marte is traded, he would be among several notable second basemen to change teams this offseason, alongside players like Brandon Lowe and Jeff McNeil. Reports suggest the Diamondbacks want clarity sooner rather than later, but they are comfortable holding onto Marte if they don’t receive an offer that meets their expectations.
As things stand, the pressure is on the Mariners to present a compelling proposal. Without including one of their top starting pitchers, Seattle may struggle to bridge the gap. Still, as the Contreras trade showed, the right combination of high-end prospects could be enough to satisfy both sides and potentially deliver the Mariners a holiday-season boost.
MAJOR BOOST:Red Sox Trading for Willson Contreras Reveals a Hidden Win for the Mariners
