Teams have been checking with the Arizona Diamondbacks about star second baseman Ketel Marte all offseason, but MLB Network’s Jon Morosi revealed two clubs in that group during a recent report: the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies.
The Diamondbacks have been listening on Marte, a 32-year-old All-Star with six years left on his contract (including a player option) who ruffled some feathers over the past couple years. They have not been shopping him, but a lack of dismissing the idea of trading the slugger has left the door open for speculation.
The Blue Jays and Phillies are a pair of teams looking to get over the final hump.
Toronto took the Los Angeles Dodgers to the brink this past postseason, losing Game 7 of the World Series at home in extra innings. Philadelphia made the World Series in 2022 but fell to Houston, lost to the D-backs in the 2023 NLCS and were defeated in the NLDS in both 2024 and 2025.
Marte had a massive say in Philadelphia’s failures in 2023, winning NLCS MVP after a dominant series in which he walked off the Phillies in Game 3.
The Blue Jays have a hole on their infield with shortstop Bo Bichette a free agent. Gold Glover Andres Gimenez can slide over from second base to shortstop as he did when Bichette missed time last year to open the spot for Marte if the Blue Jays make the move.
The Phillies have Bryson Stott at second base, an excellent defender who has been a below average hitter over the past two years. Philadelphia has a couple significant free agents on the market in designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and starting pitcher Ranger Suarez. Schwarber’s free agency in particular could impact the urgency the Phillies have to add someone like Marte to the lineup alongside Bryce Harper and Trea Turner.
Are the Diamondbacks thinking about trading Ketel Marte?
Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said at the general managers meetings that a deal was “mostly unlikely” but that it was his job to listen.
Arizona is in an unenviable position this offseason considering how many holes are on the roster and how much money is wrapped up in players who won’t be ready to start next season. There is nearly $45 million committed to pitcher Corbin Burnes and outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who are both coming off major injuries.
The Diamondbacks need pitching, both in the rotation and bullpen, along with first base and potentially outfield help.
Trading Marte theoretically could help fill some of those holes and retool around Corbin Carroll, Geraldo Perdomo and Gabriel Moreno. There is always inherent risk, however, in trading the best player in the deal.
Marte just made First team All-MLB as the game’s top second baseman. He won a Silver Slugger, made the All-Star team and received a down ballot MVP vote for his 2025 performance. Second base is not typically a power position, but Marte has averaged 30 home runs per season over the last three years. He is one of the most accomplished players in franchise history and the longest tenured on the team.
His absence following the All-Star break and days off requests led to midseason drama for the Diamondbacks, and he apologized publicly for it.
Who do the Blue Jays and Phillies have in terms of young pitching?
The Blue Jays have young pitching on the 40-man roster with starters Trey Yesavage (22) and Ricky Tiedemann (23) and relievers Mason Fluharty (24) and Braydon Fisher (25) in the bullpen.
Yesavage is the organization’s top prospect who stepped into the rotation in the postseason and lit up some of the best offenses in baseball. After making three regular season appearances, the right-hander shut out the Yankees through 5.1 innings during the ALDS and allowed one run in seven frames with 12 strikeouts in Game 5 of the World Series against L.A.
Tiedemann was previously Toronto’s top prospect, although the left-hander did not pitch in 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024. Fluharty and Fisher both had sizable roles in the bullpen in 2025.
Philadelphia’s top prospect is 22-year-old right-hander Andrew Painter, who pitched in Triple-A this past season. The Phillies have a strong top four in their rotation, but Suarez entering free agency creates a hole that Painter could fit into, unless they bring back Suarez or someone else in his stead.
Six of Philadelphia’s top 11 prospects on MLB Pipeline are pitchers, although the MLB team had the third-oldest staff in the NL in 2025.
Recent trade market
The trade market has been moving over the past couple days. The New York Mets traded outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien. That seemingly crosses the Mets off the list of potential Marte suitors, while the Rangers have some infield questions to answer.
The St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday reportedly traded veteran starting pitcher Sonny Gray to the Red Sox for two young pitchers, including Boston’s No. 5 prospect, left-hander Brandon Clarke. The Red Sox have been floated in the media as a possible Marte destination given their need at second base, crop of young pitching and since they are coming off a Wild Card berth and should continue pushing.
