On paper, the Pink Sox and Diamondbacks signify a promising match. Marte would give the Sox an elite righthanded hitter with energy (28 homers final yr in 124 video games) who grades as a stable defensive possibility at an up-the-middle place. Although his contract runs via his age-37 season, it’s modest sufficient that it wouldn’t be a roster-building iceberg if his manufacturing craters late within the deal.
The Sox, in the meantime, have the pitching depth to assist Arizona deal with its obtrusive rotation wants. The Diamondbacks had been taken with Connelly Early throughout commerce deadline conversations in July about pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. Payton Tolle or Kutter Crawford likewise may attraction to a staff seeking to contend in 2026.
With the Pink Sox’ acquisitions of Sonny Grey and Johan Oviedo earlier this offseason, the staff is definitely positioned to deal a minimum of one potential starter — and even perhaps a number of rotation candidates to entrance a multi-player bundle.
Nevertheless it’s additionally doable the Diamondbacks would need each a beginning pitcher and a place participant who may offset a number of the offensive manufacturing they’d lose in a Marte deal. The obvious path for dealing place gamers would come from the Sox’ outfield surplus, and maybe Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu would attraction to the Diamondbacks (in tandem with a minimum of one of many beginning pitching choices).
But a number of evaluators spitballed one other risk, questioning if the Diamondbacks would search, and the Pink Sox can be prepared to commerce, a bundle headlined by a beginning pitcher in addition to Mayer.
In spite of everything, if the Diamondbacks commerce Marte, they’d doubtless must backfill their infield. And if the Sox traded for Marte to play second and re-signed Alex Bregman to play third alongside shortstop Trevor Story, Mayer can be blocked — a minimum of within the brief time period.
In Baseball America’s most up-to-date rating of the highest 100 prospects in baseball, Mayer, who on the time was making an attempt to rehab earlier than he required season-ending surgical procedure to restore torn cartilage in his proper wrist, ranked ninth within the sport.
However in line with main league sources, his worth has since fallen beneath that lofty perch due to considerations about his damage historical past. In 4 full skilled seasons, he’s averaged simply over 83 video games.
As is usually the case with younger lefthanded hitters, there are additionally questions on whether or not Mayer is a platoon participant or an on a regular basis possibility. In 2025, throughout 104 plate appearances in opposition to lefties between Triple A and the massive leagues, he hit .210/.240/.340 with 35 strikeouts (34 p.c strikeout charge) and three walks.
That mentioned, Mayer stays a particular expertise with an enormous ceiling. In spring coaching and once more initially of 2025 for Worcester, he was a standout whose mixed two-way affect regarded like these of a possible All-Star. He confirmed glorious bat velocity suggesting above-average energy potential, and his protection within the large leagues at each second base and third — positions he’d hardly ever performed professionally — was so good that the Sox had been comfy letting him study on the fly as a hitter within the large leagues.
“When you may have that kind of defensive ground and positional versatility, I feel it does make it simpler to tolerate a number of the ups and downs that come together with a younger participant who’s creating offensively,” chief baseball officer Craig Breslow mentioned.
However, to develop offensively, Mayer should keep on the sphere, and he has but to show he’ll achieve this. With that uncertainty comes problem in defining the worth of the participant.
Even because the Sox are inspired by his offseason work, they’re clear-eyed about Mayer’s most obtrusive shortcoming.
“He’s stronger. He has placed on some weight. He appears to be like extra bodily. It appears like he has developed this offseason to getting larger and stronger, which is nice,” Breslow mentioned. “We’d like him to be constant. We additionally want him to shoulder a workload of a full season.”
Whereas that caveat is important, loads of avenues stay open for Mayer to grow to be a priceless a part of the Pink Sox lineup. He has an opportunity to carry down third base, shortstop, or second — versatility that may be an immense assist in constructing a staff, significantly if he emerges as an affect hitter as soon as he will get settled within the large leagues.
Nonetheless, relationship to final offseason, Mayer seemingly occupied a distinct class than Roman Anthony. The Sox have proven reluctance to deal him, however haven’t handled his unavailability as an absolute. The door is barely cracked however not slammed shut.
Is that sufficient to assume Mayer can be moved this offseason? Definitely not. But when Mayer is the distinction between the staff including an elite expertise this winter or not, the dialog a couple of heralded prospect may get attention-grabbing.
Alex Speier may be reached at alex.speier@globe.com. Observe him @alexspeier.
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