Joe Ryan, Ketel Marte among players Red Sox should target in trades originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Red Sox ended their three-year postseason drought in 2025, but they must continue bolstering their roster if they hope to be taken seriously as a World Series contender. To do so, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow should explore more major trades this winter.
Boston already made a significant splash by acquiring veteran right-hander Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals. It also added organizational depth by trading for infielder Tristan Gray and catcher Ronny Hernandez.
There are still moves to be made as we gear up for this weekend’s Winter Meetings. Regardless of your thoughts on a 36-year-old Sonny Gray at this stage of his career, the Red Sox could use another frontline starting pitcher. They also need a slugger or two, plus a second baseman to stabilize what continues to be a revolving door of a position for the club.
Fortunately for Boston, there are a handful of intriguing names who reportedly could be had for the right price. Here are five trade targets the Red Sox should inquire about this winter:
Joe Ryan, RHP, Minnesota Twins
We’ll start with the obvious. Joe Ryan is the name constantly connected to the Red Sox in trade rumors, and it’s easy to understand why.
The Red Sox reportedly pursued Ryan at the 2025 trade deadline but couldn’t get the Minnesota Twins to bite on an offer. Now would be a good time to revisit those trade talks with Minnesota potentially undergoing a rebuild.
Ryan, 29, has been rock-solid since his 2021 rookie campaign and reached a new level in 2025. The right-hander posted a career-best 3.42 ERA with a 1.035 WHIP, 194 strikeouts, and 39 walks through 171 innings (31 games) in his first All-Star season.
Under team control through 2027, adding Ryan would require a hefty trade package. That shouldn’t dissuade Breslow from aggressively pursuing an arm that would immediately earn the No. 2 spot in the rotation.
Cole Ragans, LHP, Kansas City Royals
The Royals are reportedly open to trading their left-handed ace for outfield help this winter. If they’d take Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu plus prospects, it’s a deal Breslow should strongly consider making.
Ragans was an All-Star in 2024, when he finished fourth in the 2024 American League Cy Young voting. The soon-to-be 28-year-old amassed a 3.14 ERA and 1.14 WHIP that season with 223 strikeouts and 67 walks in 32 starts.
Injuries plagued Ragans in 2025, limiting him to only 13 starts. Don’t let the 4.67 ERA fool you, however. He posted a 2.50 FIP with 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings, so the Cy Young-caliber stuff was still there.
Like Ryan, Ragans fits the mold as a true No. 2 starter behind Garrett Crochet. He’s under team control through 2028.
Freddy Peralta, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
Looking for a more affordable starting pitcher on the trade market? Perhaps Peralta is more your style.
Peralta, 29, has been the subject of trade rumors as he enters his contract year with Milwaukee. A trusted arm in the Brewers’ rotation since 2018, the right-hander is coming off his best season. He finished 2025 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.075 WHIP with 204 strikeouts and 66 walks in 33 starts (176.2 innings). He earned his second All-Star nod and was fifth in the National League Cy Young race.
Ketel Marte, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks
The Red Sox need a reliable everyday second baseman. Six players spent time at the position in 2025, which is actually an improvement from the 11 who played second in 2024.
The Diamondbacks appear open to trading Marte for young pitching, and that should pique Boston’s interest. The 32-year-old has been among the game’s best hitters for the last three years, including two of his three All-Star seasons in 2024 and 2025. Last year, he slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 homers and 72 RBI.
The D’backs signed Marte to a team-friendly six-year, $116.5 million contract last April, so it’d take a haul to acquire him. He’s worth a look if Arizona actively pursues a deal, though someone like free agent Jorge Polanco would be a more realistic option to fill the second base void.
Brendan Donovan, IF/OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Although Donovan wouldn’t be as sexy an addition as Marte, the super utility man would be a major upgrade at second base. He’d also be capable of filling in at any other infield position and both corner outfield spots.
Donovan, who turns 29 next month, has been a model of consistency for St. Louis since entering the league in 2022. You can expect 10 to 15 home runs with an OPS in the high 700s to go along with his rock-solid defense at the aforementioned positions.
Donovan is under team control through 2027. There’s a strong chance the Cardinals deal him as ex-Red Sox CBO Chaim Bloom continues to retool the roster, so Breslow should inquire about making his second big trade with St. Louis this offseason.
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