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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 28: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates after his home run against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park on September 28, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin/Getty Images)
The New York Mets traded second baseman Jeff McNeil to the A’s earlier today, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. However, this may have been a linear move, and not the beginning of a retool.
Francys Romero of Beisbol FR reported, “With Jeff McNeil gone, the Mets are believed to be exploring Ketel Marte, or at least discussing him in trade talks, per an industry source.”
With the Boston Red Sox reportedly out on Marte after they acquired Willson Contreras, it would seem that other teams would have high levels of interest in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ superstar second baseman.
The New York Mets seemingly fit that bill after trading their second baseman. But should they?
Does New York Have the Ammunition to Acquire Ketel Marte?
The Diamondbacks, in any deal for Marte, want young, MLB-ready pitching as a headliner. The Mets have plenty of it.
Arizona would likely require one of the Mets’ young starters in the deal. Nolan McLean, who had a spectacular eight-game major league season, is likely off the table.
McLean, the highest-ranked pitcher in the Top 100 prospects, per MLB Pipeline, is the No. 11 prospect in all of baseball. In eight major league games last year, he had a 2.06 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 48 innings of work. The Mets, understandably so, should be reluctant to trade him.
The next best thing to McLean is Jonah Tong. The No. 46 prospect possesses an elite, Tim Lincecum-like fastball delivery, according to his MLB prospect page. In 22 games in the minors during the 2025 season, Tong had a 1.43 ERA with 179 strikeouts in 113.2 innings.
But like McLean, he already has major league experience. However, it isn’t the good kind. In five games (18.2 innings), Tong had a 7.71 ERA.
Brandon Sproat, the Mets’ fifth-ranked prospect, possesses a strong pitch selection, with an above-average changeup. In four major league games during the 2025 season, Sproat had a 4.79 ERA in 20.2 innings.
While Sproat is not a big strikeout pitcher due to little movement on his fastball, he possesses a 95-98 mph fastball.
While all are expected to make the major league rotation in 2025, the Mets may have to make a sacrifice if they truly want Marte.
Does Marte Even Fit With the Mets?
The Mets have a crowded infield, even after trading McNeil today.
As of now, Jorge Polanco, Mark Vientos, Marcus Semien, Brett Baty and Francisco Lindor make up the infield. It remains to be seen whether Marte even fits into the equation in New York.
Jack Sommers of Sports Illustrated wrote in a comment section that this would be a strange fit for New York.
“Right now they have Baty at 3B, Lindor at SS, Semien at 2B, Polanco at 1B,” Sommers wrote. “Where would Ketel play? 1B or 3B, where he’s basically never played? If he goes to 2B, then where does Semien go? Move Baty to 1B, Polanco to DH and Semien to 3B? He hasn’t played there in 10 years.”
On paper, this is a bizarre fit for the Mets. Could Marte make a return to the outfield, where he hasn’t played consistently since 2021? That would likely not be a good fit for Marte, as he has better defensive metrics at second base.
Of course, everyone should want a player like Marte. But do they have the ammunition or the fit for him? Most don’t.
Marte likely will stay in the desert for the time being.
Matthew Singer Matthew Singer is a sports reporter covering MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2025, and has two years of experience covering local professional, collegiate and high school sports, including writing for Cronkite News and Arizona PBS. More about Matthew Singer
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