The Boston Red Sox and several of their American League East rivals had active offseasons, setting up a highly competitive division race. While the Red Sox are struggling to find their best form, the Toronto Blue Jays are also off to an underwhelming start and enter Friday four games below .500. Injuries have contributed to Toronto’s slow beginning, even after the club made major moves in the offseason and followed a strong run to the World Series.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer suggested that the Blue Jays could make another significant splash by pursuing Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ketel Marte in a trade. Rymer wrote that Marte should be on Toronto’s radar because the team needs more offensive production as much as pitching help. He also noted that Marte could interest the Red Sox, particularly if Marcelo Mayer’s long-term role returns to shortstop. Both Boston and Toronto were connected to Marte during the winter.
Marte has not been producing at his usual level this season, batting .240 through 46 games, but he could still represent an upgrade for Toronto’s infield options. Rymer pointed out that Marte would likely be an improvement over Andrés Giménez or Kazuma Okamoto in the Blue Jays’ lineup. A possible roster adjustment could also allow Ernie Clement to shift to shortstop if Toronto made the move.
For the Blue Jays, the pressure is rising after a major offseason investment. Falling short of the postseason would be a major disappointment for a team built to contend. The organization still has time to recover, especially if key players return to health and the offense improves. The Red Sox face a similar path, needing better performance to stay in the tight AL East race, while Toronto may be more inclined to act aggressively if the front office believes a trade for Marte could help meet high expectations.
