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The Red Sox lost Alex Bregman and could use some offense. Perhaps a trade for an Astros All-Star would make sense.

The Boston Red Sox are off to a slow start this season. After winning their first game of the 2026 season, they promptly lose five games in a row and have now fallen to last place in the powerful American League East.

Boston is clearly missing Alex Bregman, who it lost in free agency to the Chicago Cubs. They added Caleb Durbin and Willson Contreras to boost the lineup, as well as Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez for the pitching staff, but there isn’t much going for them at the moment.

They could use a little help offensively. If they are able to bounce back into contention this season, they might be wise to dive into the trade market and add a bat. One name they were linked to several times last offseason was Isaac Paredes of the Houston Astros.

Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report listed Paredes as an early trade candidate and had Boston as a possible landing spot.

“He appeared in a bunch of trade rumors over the winter precisely because he doesn’t have a clear role in Houston,” Rymer wrote. “An injury to Carlos Correa or Christian Walker would clear that up, but he’s stuck behind both for now.

“The appeal of Paredes is simple. He isn’t a good defender, but he works good at-bats and generates plenty of pull power. Since 2022, he’s averaged 25 home runs per 162 games.”

Boston Red Sox Linked to Isaac Paredes

Paredes slashed .254/.352/.458 with 20 home runs, 53 RBI and an .809 OPS last season with Houston. The Red Sox don’t exactly have a lot of defensive positions open at the moment, but he could serve as a designated hitter, and a right-handed option to platoon with Masataka Yoshida, a left-handed bat.

If the Red Sox are in the race and are still hunting for a bat, Paredes could be the perfect fit. The Green Monster in left field plays well for right-handed hitters at Fenway Park, and he could find himself a clear fit in Boston.

He may not be Bregman, but he does bring power, and if the Red Sox absolutely need him to, he can play first base, second base and third base, though he isn’t known for his defense, as Rymer points out.

The Red Sox’s offense has been what has let them down so far this season, but if they can turn things around, they should be in the market for an upgrade or two.

Paredes Trade Depends on Red Sox

Ultimately, this potential deal hinges on whether or not the Red Sox can actually turn it around. If they are unable to, then they will likely be sellers, which would obviously take them out of the market for Paredes as an offensive upgrade.

But if they can, then they may pop up as a potential suitor if the Astros do decide to trade him away. It will be interesting to see how the Red Sox’s season plays out and if they will still be in the market to make some trades.

Curt Bishop Curt Bishop is a freelance sports writer who has written for various outlets including Heavy Sports, Sports Illustrated, FanSided, The Sporting News, Newsweek and Yardbarker. His work entails mostly breaking and trending news with a concentration on Major League Baseball (MLB). Curt graduated from Maryville University of St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in communications with a focus on emerging and new media, as well as a music minor. More about Curt Bishop