Red Sox Reportedly Eye Trade for All-Star After Contreras Deal, Brayan Bello on Block?

The Boston Red Sox have already had a busy offseason, but they're reportedly still looking into more trades.

Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, the Red Sox have had talks with the St. Louis Cardinals about a trade that would send infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan to Boston.

Additionally, Rosenthal and Sammon reported that a rival executive said the team has "quietly shopped" right-handed pitcher Brayan Bello.

The trade interest in Donovan comes after a pair of deals between the Red Sox and Cardinals this offseason.

St. Louis sent pitcher Sonny Gray to Boston in November in return for left-hander Brandon Clarke and right-hander Richard Fitts. Then on Sunday, the Red Sox acquired first baseman Willson Contreras from the Cardinals in exchange for pitchers Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita.

The Red Sox reportedly were in the mix to land Arizona Cardinals second baseman Ketel Marte in a trade, but their interest has cooled after acquiring Contreras.

Donovan, 28, is coming off his first All-Star season in which he recorded 10 home runs and 50 RBI while slashing .287/.353/.422 across 118 games. Rosenthal and Sammon noted that Donovan "almost certainly would bring a greater return than Gray or Contreras," though a deal is not close between the two sides.

According to Rosenthal and Sammon, "Bello's name often surfaces when teams ask about the Red Sox's young pitching," noting that his "contract adds to his appeal" for other teams. The 26-year-old is on a relatively affordable deal that owes him $50.5 million over the next four seasons. The contract also includes a $21 million club option in 2030.

Bello is coming off the best season of his young career, collecting a 3.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 2.4 WAR with 124 strikeouts in 29 appearances.