The Boston Red Sox traded for a powerful righty bat on Sunday night. First baseman Willson Contreras is headed to Boston in a deal sending three right-handed pitchers to the St. Louis Cardinals, including fan favorite Hunter Dobbins. Full trade, per ESPN sources:Red Sox get: 1B Willson Contreras and $8 million to cover part of his remaining $41.5 million in salaryCardinals get: RHP Hunter Dobbins, RHP Yhoiker Fajardo and RHP Blake Aita— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 22, 2025 While Red Sox fans try to imagine what Boston’s lineup looks like with Contreras now in the mix, many are still anxious about the fact that Alex Bregman remains unsigned. On that note, MassLive’s Red Sox insider Chris Cotillo provided a Bregman update on Sunday night in the minutes following the Contreras news. “The Red Sox remain engaged with third baseman Alex Bregman about a return to Boston, as well, with club officials remaining hopeful — but not necessarily either optimistic or pessimistic — at this juncture.”– @ChrisCotillo pic.twitter.com/HiFgrFU2T4— Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) December 22, 2025 “The Red Sox remain engaged with third baseman Alex Bregman about a return to Boston, as well, with club officials remaining hopeful — but not necessarily either optimistic or pessimistic — at this juncture,” Cotillo revealed. Story continues below advertisement Boston has been talking to Bregman and his agent Scott Boras about a return, but the Red Sox have also been linked this offseason to Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte in trade buzz. Interestingly, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale dropped his own bit of surprising Red Sox intel after the Contreras news, and it related to Marte. Story continues below advertisement Essentially, Nightengale asserted that this Contreras deal means Boston will stop its pursuit of Marte. The Red Sox, who will be responsible for $33.5 million of the $41.5 million owed to Willson Contreras, are now expected to end trade talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks for 2B Ketel Marte.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 22, 2025 Plenty of Red Sox fans and pundits responded to Nightengale’s claim with a furrowed brow, wondering why exactly the Contreras move would take Boston out of the running for Marte. Story continues below advertisement It’s going to be an interesting rest of the offseason in regard to Boston’s lineup, because many people assume the Red Sox aren’t done adding.