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Third baseman Alec Bohm could be nearing a return to the Philadelphia Phillies lineup.
The hot stove is finally starting to cook in Major League Baseball. This past week, there have been several meaningful trades taking place across the league. First, it was Taylor Ward going to the Orioles, then Marcus Semien was acquired by the Mets. Even today, the Red Sox acquired All-Star starter Sonny Gray from the Cardinals. So, when will the Philadelphia Phillies start getting active in the market?
The Phillies are thought to be big players this offseason, and the trade market might be where they can make their biggest splashes, aside from re-signing Kyle Schwarber. Recent reports indicate that the Arizona Diamondbacks are “actively listening to offers” on second baseman Ketel Marte, and the Phillies have checked in on the three-time All-Star.
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Phillies-Diamondbacks Trade Idea Includes Massive Haul
So, what would it take for the Phillies to acquire Ketel Marte? Probably a lot.
In this trade proposal, the Phillies would have to give up third baseman Alec Bohm, southpaw reliever Matt Strahm, and prospect Justin Crawford. Ketel Marte comes with a hefty contract of six years, $105 million that runs through the 2030 season. Philadelphia would likely have to pick up a large chunk of that contract to make a deal like this worth it, which is why they are giving up so much capital in return.
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 23: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates hitting a single during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on June 23, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
However, Marte is one of the top second basemen in all of MLB by a large margin. In 126 games in 2025, the switch-hitting Ketel Marte hit 28 home runs, drove in 72 runs, and had an impressive 145 OPS+. And that is a “down” season in comparison to his 2024 season, when he hit 36 home runs and finished top-3 in NL MVP voting. His value can not be understated, but there was some slight frustration about Marte being a team player at the end of last season, and it caused some ripple effect in the Diamondbacks’ clubhouse this season.
Since 2023, Marte has posted a 16.1 bWAR. He’s projected by BaseballReference.com to have 26 home runs and hit .276 over 467 ABs in 2026.
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What About the Phillies’ Player Being Traded
Again, what makes this trade proposal so massive is the details of it. Alec Bohm is thought to be a tradeable player on the Phillies this offseason. He was an All-Star in 2024, but hit a slight regression this season. His free agency isn’t until 2027, but the Phillies could offload him now and not have to worry about paying him. Bohm’s power numbers aren’t totally there yet: however, he’s been around a .280 hitter for the past four seasons.
As for Strahm and Phillies’ prospect Justin Crawford, they are what make this deal intriguing to the Diamondbacks. If Arizona hopes to compete in the future, offloading Marte doesn’t signify that they won’t be able to. The Diamondbacks would need an arm like Strahm in the back end of the bullpen, and Crawford is essentially MLB-ready and could attempt to fill the void that Marte will leave at second base.
If the Diamondbacks do decide to move on from Ketel Marte, expect the Phillies to make a good run at him, as Dave Dombrowski looks to strike this offseason in a big way.
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