Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
For much of the MLB offseason, there was a thought of the Arizona Diamondbacks potentially trading away star infielder Ketel Marte. Arizona missed the playoffs again last season, and some around the league believed that he was a prime trade candidate.
Marte could net the Diamondbacks a strong trade return, helping to set up the organization for the future. But general manager Mike Hazen slammed the door on trade rumors a few weeks ago, saying that a deal wasn’t likely to happen.
“It never ended up getting that close,” Hazen said of potential deals. “Just sort of reaffirming what I’ve been saying the entire offseason, like my expectation was this wasn’t going to happen. I felt like I had to do my job just to listen to what people had to say. He’s a superstar player for us, and has been for a long time, and is going to continue to be.”
Marte, 32, is still one of the better hitters in baseball, and he has been a key piece to how the Diamondbacks have operated in recent years. The veteran is also under a guaranteed contract throughout the 2030 season, while holding a player option for $11.5 million in 2031.
With the team having this long of control on the books, there isn’t any urgency for them to trade him, even if they were to start rebuilding the roster a little. But with Marte having this many years left on his deal, this could also help the Diamondbacks if they were to trade him sicne interested teams may pay more to invest in adding the All-Star to the team.
Arizona has reportedly been asking for a huge trade return if it were to move Marte this offseason, but no team was willing to pay the price. Marte could be worth what the Diamondbacks are asking for, and he is only one year removed from finishing third in the 2024 National League MVP voting.
The veteran has made two All-Star teams during the course of his career, and since 2021, he has ranked second overall among second basemen in wRC+ (133) and has slashed a combined .279/.360/.498. Overall, Marte could be a gem for any team in the league, and while a trade may not be likely as with everything else in the league, this is a fluid situation.
Ketel Marte 2025 Stats
This past season, Marte hit .283 with 28 home runs and 72 runs batted in, playing in 126 games for Arizona.
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If the Diamondbacks do decide to change course in a Marte trade, the Boston Red Sox make a lot of sense as a landing spot. Boston has been one of the teams around baseball to show interest in making a deal for him, and the team could still use another infielder.
Boston Red Sox ‘Godfather’ Ketel Marte Offer Details
Patrick McAvoy of the Boston Red Sox on Sports Illustrated put together a massive trade proposal that had the Boston landing Marte.
Red Sox Receive: INF Ketel Marte
Diamondbacks Receive: OF Jarren Duran (or) Wilyer Abreu, LHP Connelly Early (No. 4 prospect), INF Franklin Arias (No. 1 prospect), OF Nelly Taylor (No. 14 prospect) and RHP Kutter Crawford.
Final Thoughts
With Boston’s need for another infielder, Marte has become the primary focus of this team during the offseason. This would be a last-ditch effort to land Marte from Arizona, and this offer could be very tough for the Diamondbacks to pass on.
Boston would get a legitimate bat for their lineup, giving them more credibility in the loaded American League East. Marte has true game-changing abilities, and the Red Sox could take that next step from just making the playoffs a year ago.
Since Marte is under team control for multiple years, this move could be a smart one from the Red Sox’s perspective. Losing this much could be tough, but Marte is an All-Star talent who could transform this team in multiple areas.
Landing Duran or Abreu could allow the Diamondbacks to round out the outfield, and both players have grown in terms of overall development. Arizona would also get a few solid prospects from the Red Sox’s farm system, which has been a place of strength for years.
Marte could instantly push the Red Sox into being true World Series contenders, while Arizona would get multiple pieces to build around for the future. This could be a true win-win move for each, and it’s something to potentially keep an eye on before the season gets started.
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