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One position that the San Francisco Giants are looking to upgrade is second base, according to The Athletic. The biggest name available is Bo Bichette, but that would require a switch from shortstop to second base.
Looking to solidify their infield, the Giants might have to do it through a trade. The Winter Meetings are set to begin in a week, and things could heat up in terms of free agency and the trade market. One name that continues to be discussed in trade rumors is Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
There seems to belief that the Diamondbacks would move him if the price is right. Would they trade Marte within the division? That remains to be seen, but San Francisco was linked to him by ESPN.
Giants Linked to Diamondbacks Second Baseman Ketel Marte
Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN ranked the players who could be traded this offseason. They ranked the players by value for their new team if traded, not the likelihood of being dealt. Marte was the No. 2-ranked player, and the Giants were listed.
“Teams believe they’ll have a better sense after the winter meetings of the Diamondbacks’ seriousness about moving the best second baseman in baseball. Marte has a very reasonable five years and $91 million (plus a sixth-year player option at $11.5 million) remaining on his contract, which means Arizona would want a whale of a return,” McDaniel and Passan wrote.
At 32 years old, Marte is the best second base option in the trade market if Arizona does move him. He is a three-time All-Star and is coming off a season where he slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 home runs and 72 RBIs in 126 games. Those numbers would be welcomed into a Giants lineup that has some thump in it now.
“Marte is tied for the 13th-best player in baseball by WAR over the past three seasons (15.3 WAR in total). He’s 32 and is an average baserunner and defender at second base, so his value is mostly tied to his bat. That should last for a while, though, as he’s well-rounded at the plate, having better-than-average walk and strikeout rates, power numbers, contact rate, and on-base percentage,” McDaniel and Passan wrote.
Ketel Marte Would Be a Huge Upgrade For the Giants
San Francisco currently has Casey Schmidt at the top of their depth chart at second base. Adding Marte would be a big upgrade. He would join Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers, and Willy Adames in an expensive infield.
Another free agent option is Jorge Polanco, who had a good postseason for the Seattle Mariners. However, injuries raise some flags about just how many games he could play over a 162-game season.
Would the Diamondbacks consider an inter-divisional trade of Marte? It would depend on the potential return, but nothing is out of the question. The Diamondbacks are stuck in the middle of trying to compete in a loaded division despite being two years removed from the World Series.
Marte would have plenty of suitors, including some of the big contenders, something the Giants are trying to be. Trading for Marte would fill a huge need this offseason in the Bay Area.
Scott Roche Scott Roche covers college football and the NFL for Heavy.com and has three decades of sports writing, covering everything from college to professional sports. More about Scott Roche
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