There are plenty of big-name players available in free agency or the trade block, and it seems like the Toronto Blue Jays have been linked to every single one in some capacity.
Toronto boasts one of the most aggressive front offices in baseball. For some teams, a $210 million deal with Dylan Cease would be enough to end offseason shopping. That isn’t the case with the Blue Jays. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on Monday that the Blue Jays are among the teams that have shown interest in Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ketel Marte.
“Blue Jays among teams, along with (Boston Red Sox) and others, interested in D-Backs superstar Ketel Marte,” Heyman wrote on X. “Talks happening but nothing hot yet.”
Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith followed up on Tuesday and reported that although the Blue Jays have been in touch with the Diamondbacks about Marte, they are on the “periphery” of Marte talks.
“Not only are the Toronto Blue Jays in touch with top free agents like Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette, they’re checking in on some prominent trade candidates, too,” Nicholson-Smith wrote on Tuesday. “The price on Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte appears to be extremely high, but executives say the switch-hitter who has averaged 5.4 wins above replacement per season since 2023 really is available. Naturally, many teams are checking in on Marte, a list that reportedly includes the (Boston Red Sox), (Detroit Tigers), (Seattle Mariners), (Pittsburgh Pirates), (Tampa Bay Rays), and Blue Jays…
“At the right acquisition cost, any team would be interested, the Blue Jays included. But putting this possibility through some common-sense filters, it starts to appear much less likely. As day two of the Winter Meetings unfolds, some in the industry believe the Blue Jays are on the periphery of Marte talks, not in the middle of them.”
Marte is a star and would be a solid pickup, but only if the Blue Jays are unable to re-sign Bo Bichette.
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