The Arizona Diamondbacks Are Motivated To Move Off Ketel Marte
The Arizona Diamondbacks are reportedly motivated to move off one of their star players. Bob Nightengale reported earlier today that Arizona is ‘motivated’ to move Ketel Marte, and is expected to ask for a bunch in return. He is under contract until 2030 and has a player option in 2031. Marte is one of the most underrated players in baseball and is on a very team-friendly contract.
Why Would the Diamondbacks Trade Marte?
The Diamondbacks are in a tough spot when it comes to competing for a championship in 2026. Their roster needs work, and it’ll be very hard to retool this roster to try to compete in a loaded conference, let alone their own division. The pitching staff needs work, and this is where a deal for Marte could help them. He would bring back an absolute haul, and that trade could be headlined by a team that has a surplus of young pitching to spare.
Getting more young talent in return for Marte could help the Diamondbacks gear up for a potential playoff run in the next 2-3 years. The good news is that they have a ton of time to decide on Marte and don’t need to move him immediately. The reason why they’re inclined to deal him is that his value is most likely at an all-time high, and under control for the rest of his career.
I expect all contending teams to reach out and offer their best packages for Marte. One thing not talked about enough is Marte’s playoff success, which is another thing that increases his value. In 21 games, he has a .344 average, 3 home runs, 31 hits, and 13 RBI with the Diamondbacks.
What Teams Would Be In the Mix?
The Boston Red Sox would definitely be one of the teams to inquire about Marte this offseason. They are expected to add a lot of talent, and Marte would fit perfectly in their timeline and the infield. Marte would add a veteran presence to the locker room and an elite switch-hitter to their lineup, making them even more versatile.
The Detroit Tigers are another team that would make sense for Marte. With Gleyber Torres expected to hit the open market, they could try to find their long-term second baseman for the foreseeable future. He is a better player than Torres is, and would cost less. The question will be whether or not the Tigers are open to moving key players in their farm system to land Marte and make themselves true World Series Contenders.
The last team I’d put on the list is the New York Yankees. New York has been interested in Marte for years, and they have the young pitching in their farm system to get a deal done. The Diamondbacks reportedly scouted their farm system before the Trade Deadline, when New York was interested in a lot of players, most notably Eugenio Suarez.
They would have to make a bunch of changes defensively because Jazz Chisholm Jr. is the everyday second baseman. They could put Marte on the left side of the infield, because he’s played SS and 3B in his career, or they could put Jazz back in center field or third base to make Marte the new 2B.
