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ORLANDO — The Red Sox’ wide search for major offensive upgrades at the Winter Meetings has sent them to the trade market, where they have explored possible deals for at least four different All-Stars, according to a league source.
They have discussed second baseman Ketel Marte with the Diamondbacks, shortstop Corey Seager with the Rangers, third baseman Isaac Paredes with the Astros, and infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan with the Cardinals, a source said.
Acquiring any of those players would come at a significant cost. The Red Sox’ consideration of vast options is in line with chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s view of trades, as well as free agency, as a path to improving the Red Sox. And these sorts of conversations are not unusual during a week in which virtually the entire baseball world is at the same Disney-area hotel.
“There are some [hitters of note who are trade candidates],” Breslow said. “But it’s really difficult to pry other team’s best players away from them. And in doing so, you have to give up talent yourself.
“These types of trades should be uncomfortable for both sides. And so we’re engaged in those conversations. It’s impossible to know today what will get executed, what will reach the finish line, and what won’t. But going to trades and free agency are both good ways to improve our roster.”
Marte, 32, has five years and $91 million (plus an $11.5 million player option for 2031) left on the contract extension he signed in April. He is coming off another excellent offensive season, having won a second Silver Slugger in a row after slashing .283/.376/.517 with 28 home runs and 72 RBIs in 126 games. The Diamondbacks are considering dealing their star in part because they are pitching-needy.
Seager, also 32 next season, is due $186 million over the next six years. Like Marte, he has mashed as a middle infielder, posting a .294/.372/.544 slash line over the past three years and averaging 28 homers and 73 RBIs per season. The Rangers, who have missed the playoffs the past two seasons after winning the 2023 World Series, are cutting payroll and already have traded second baseman Marcus Semien to the Mets.
Paredes, the youngest of this bunch as a 27-year-old in 2026, has two years of team control remaining before reaching free agency. The Astros are under little pressure to deal him. A rigthhanded hitter, Paredes hit .254 with a .352 OBP and .458 slugging percentage in 102 games last season before suffering a severe hamstring strain in July.
Paredes primarily has played third base in recent seasons for the Astros, Rays, and Cubs, but he could shift to first base if he joined the Sox, pending the status of Alex Bregman.
And Donovan, who turns 29 next month, is among the Cardinals’ best trade chips at the outset of their rebuild under new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, who already this offseason has dealt Sonny Gray to the Red Sox.
Donovan, who also has two years to go until free agency, has played mostly second base and left field but has experience at first, shortstop, right, and third. He owns a career .282/.361/.411 slash line and won the utility Gold Glove in 2022.
“In a lot of the conversations that we’ve had, a number of teams have conveyed that they’re very comfortable holding onto their players, as are we,” Breslow said, again speaking generally. “So that does add a little bit of a layer of difficulty to try to make these things work.”
With the Winter Meetings set to end Wednesday ― and the Red Sox engaged with Bregman and Pete Alonso, among other free agents ― Breslow was noncommittal about when the team’s next big move may come.
“There are moments in time where you feel like things are really, really close, and then just a couple minutes later or hours later, and you feel like you’re really far apart,” Breslow said. “So we’re obviously engaged across a bunch of different paths, with other teams, with free agents, we’re going to be aggressive and decisive and trying to improve our roster. Exactly when that will happen is really hard to handicap.”
Sox in on Suarez
Eugenio Suarez is another free agent with whom the Red Sox have been in touch regularly, a source said.
Suarez, 34, is a third baseman who may move to first, both positions of need for the Sox. He had a .298 OBP but amassed a career-high-tying 49 home runs and 118 RBIs with the Diamondbacks and Mariners (with whom he struggled after being traded) in 2025.
Worldly Sox
A quick trip around the globe for the Red Sox’ World Baseball Classic commitments:
* In addition to Garrett Whitlock (Team USA), Ceddanne Rafaela (Netherlands) and Jarren Duran (Mexico) are confirmed participants.
* Wilyer Abreu is planning to play for Venezuela, though manager Omar Lopez said they are waiting for full clearance from the team/league. Carlos Narváez also wants to join Venezuela but his October knee surgery is a complicating factor (as is the uncertain playing time).
* Aroldis Chapman is very close to being approved for Great Britain.
* Jovani Morán is likely to pitch for Puerto Rico, Alex Cora said.
* Masataka Yoshida is not on Japan’s roster for now. If he plays, it would have to be in left field, with Shohei Ohtani locking down DH, manager Hirokazu Ibata said through an interpreter.
* Henry Godbout, the Sox’ second-round draft pick last season, may suit up for Israel.
Extra bases
Cora on Kyle Schwarber’s new five-year, $150 million contract with the Phillies: “Good for him. He earned it … I had a pretty good idea that was going to be the route [and he wouldn’t leave Philadelphia].” The Sox didn’t make Schwarber an offer, a source said … Breslow said Abreu has “earned the right” to face lefthanded pitchers and prove himself as a true everyday player, echoing Cora’s comments. “We have to see if they can do it. It’s about that time, especially with Abreu,” Cora said. “And if he can hit lefties and hit for power and play defense the way he’s done the last few years, he can be the guy” … Cora talked up Nate Eaton, as he did often late in the season. He is an on-roster outfield/utility option in a potential post-Rob Refsnyder world. “The way he played in September, that was eye opening,” Cora said. “The athlete — actually, the at-bats were really good” … Cora said he has texted “a lot” with Bregman this offseason, talking mostly about their families and Bregman’s workouts. “Our relationship has kept growing. It grew last year. We became closer than in the past, and I love the kid. I love his family. He feels the same way about mine.”
Tim Healey can be reached at timothy.healey@globe.com. Follow him @timbhealey. Alex Speier can be reached at alex.speier@globe.com. Follow him @alexspeier.