There may be no bigger question for the Diamondbacks this winter than whether to trade Ketel Marte. A fourth-place finisher in 2019 NL MVP voting, Marte looked to be emerging as one of the game’s best position players. An average showing in the 2020 truncated schedule registered as a disappointment, but the switch-hitter returned to his 2019 form last year.
Marte hit .318/.377/.532, production that checked in 39 percentage points above the league average by measure of wRC+. Strains of both hamstrings limited him to just more than half of Arizona’s games, as he tallied 374 plate appearances over 90 contests. When healthy, Marte was dynamic, and his relative down year in 2020 now looks like an anomaly. In just under 1,200 plate appearances since the start of 2019, he’s a .318/.374/.543 hitter. His 137 wRC+ in that time ranks 11th among the 159 players with more than 1,000 trips to the plate.
That’s star-level offensive output, and Marte also offers up-the-middle defensive value. He didn’t acclimate well to a move to center field last year, but he’s rated as an average or better gloveman at second base. Some clubs may have reservations about his health after last year’s hamstring issues, but few players around the league can match Marte’s combination of bat-to-ball skills, raw power and athleticism.
In addition to his obvious talent, Marte’s incredibly affordable. He’ll play the 2022 season on a modest $8.4MM salary, and he’s controllable through 2024 via a pair of club options worth a combined $24MM. The Marlins are the only club known to have contacted the D-Backs about Marte this winter, but it stands to reason there are plenty of other teams with interest in a player of this caliber on such a team-friendly contract.
Whether the Diamondbacks would trade Marte is uncertain. They seemed to take him off the market quite early at last summer’s deadline. General manager Mike Hazen and assistant GM Amiel Sawdaye have both spoken in recent months about a desire to avoid a full rebuild while building the franchise around a few cornerstone players, and Marte no doubt qualifies. Both Hazen and Sawdaye have left the door open a bit, noting that they’re not in position to deem anyone completely untouchable coming off an NL-worst 52-110 season. Yet neither executive sounded enthused about the possibility, and Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic wrote last month that it’d take a “monster package” for Arizona to move Marte.
Should the Diamondbacks be willing to entertain a Marte trade? They’re in a division with three of the game’s most talented rosters, and it’s hard to see a path to contention in 2022. The D-Backs could look into another contract extension, but a new Marte deal would be far costlier than the one on which he’s currently playing.
One could make a cogent argument that Arizona should pursue some form of organizational reboot, and no one on the roster would bring back as strong a return in trade as Marte. Yet there’s no certainty any prospect they get back will become a player anywhere near Marte’s caliber, and he should still be in high demand this summer or next offseason if the club hasn’t seen much near-term progress.
(poll link for app users)
Hard yes
I agree. If the bad 2020 season didn’t make it obvious Arizona needed to rebuild than having the worst record in baseball this season did. If any teams should ever rebuild the worst team in the league definitely should. The Diamondbacks need to worry about 2 things right now. #1 Acquire as many prospects as possible. #2 Get rid of the Madison Bumgarner contract.
Nothing else really matters. See if they can trade Bumgarner for another bad contract that is shorter. They should try and take on as many bad 1-year deals as possible with prospects attached. Justin Upton, Zack Britton and Will Myers should all be on the table. Get rid of Bumgarner because he still has 3 years left on his deal. They should want a clear payroll by 2023 with a much better farm system.
Get as much as you can for Marte. The only way they should keep him is if for some reason the market doesn’t offer enough in return. His market should easily materialize. I could see a team giving up possibly all of their top 3 prospects. Arizona needs to pull that trigger. Add prospects. Ditch Bumgarner. Don’t worry about next season at all. That plan could make them a much better team by 2023 or 2024. Anyone who wants this team to put it’s resources to competing next year is kidding themselves. Always sacrifice the years that don’t matter to make your team better during the years that do matter. This team will be lucky to finish in 4th place next season. A playoff appearance or even a winning record look impossible. Especially in a division with the Padres, Dodgers and Giants. Their goal should be to start the rebuild but still figure out some way to finish ahead of the Rockies.
Bad contract but shorter? Odorizzi?
He and the team desire to split ways. Marte & Bumgardner plus cash for Peña, Odorizzi, Siri or McCormick, and 2 top 20 prospects. Astros and Dbacks last trade seemed to benefit both well
Pena is their shortstop and siri and Mccormick and 2 of their top 5 major league outfielders- all three are cheap and controlled. The Astros wouldn’t deal all that for a bad contract and a fine superutility man . Nevermind adding 2 prospects
First, the Astros are in it to win and Peña is a valuable trade piece to strengthen the team.SS prospects Leon and Novis have been ranked higher than Peña. There are capable SSs (Simmons or Story?) that could be had for a 1 yr deal as a bridge to the prospects. Siri and McCormick are at the bottom of the team’s depth for OF. Straw was more coveted than them and look who he was traded for. The farm isn’t that deep so prospects are just filler
Leon is an outfielder that can play short. Pena is their #4 prospect and Nova is 24… 20 spots lower… and Pena is mlb ready. Also, story isn’t taking a 1 year deal. And the offensively inept Simmons isn’t replacing Correa. Also, if the season starts today, Mccormick starts in center and siri is the 4th outfielder.
Leon is a SS being converted to play OF. Peña would be the centerpiece. Reports have been that Story could take 1 yr deal to prove efficacy away from Denver. Why would the team need to replace Correa offensively even W/O acquiring Marte? Look at the lineup. Nova’s prospect position is common knowledge and McCormick’s and Siri’s are still the bottom of the OF depth chart.
I know this is off topic but I’m not sure why an article hasn’t already been done on the soon to be revealed BBWAA ballot. Any true baseball fan has probably heard the name Ryan Thibodaux and his online ballot tracker. It’s quite troubling to me. Looks like it’s going to be Ortiz/Clemens/Bonds getting in while Schilling won’t and has a major drop. This is quite sad to me they might as well let Rafael Palmiero/Mark McGwire/Sammy Sosa in as well.
A lot of people will call it the juicing ballot, Ortiz will go in with suspicion with known juicers.
I didn’t realize that. I thought Ortiz was the only one who stood a chance. I think Schilling would have made it in until he told people he didn’t want to be voted in by the writers. Now he’s going to lose some votes from people who actually did vote for him last year.
Hammer, plus, didn’t Schilling have some highly offensive political views or something?? I can’t remember, but I wanna say they may have been racially insensitive, too?
It was something political. I don’t know what his views are and don’t really care. I guess him being outspoken about his political views made some people say they wouldn’t vote for him because of his character. I heard Schilling talk about it though when he said he didn’t want to be voted in though. He was upset because some of the same writers who wouldn’t vote him in due to his character also voted in a writer who was a convicted child abuser. His point seemed to hold at least some water. He was basically saying how is it possible his character is in question when those same people were voting in a convicted child predator at the same time. I wouldn’t personally hold anyone’s political views against them if I voted for the hall of fame. I can understand why some people do though. I have to admit though that voting in a convicted child predator while questioning Schilling’s character at the same time seems really hypocritical. If Schilling shouldn’t get in then the other guy certainly shouldn’t. I heard all this from Schilling himself though so I don’t know how accurate it is. I would encourage everyone to do some research on it and look up this writer Schilling was talking about before forming any opinion. I haven’t done that yet. If Schilling is being truthful I would have to say I think he should either be put in or that convicted writer should be kicked out and the people who voted for him should be ashamed. That’s a big if though because I haven’t researched it beyond the Schilling interview. I’m assuming he’s telling the truth when he says “convicted” because that’s so easily verifiable. I don’t know any other details though.
Looks like it’s going to be Ortiz/Clemens/Bonds getting in while Schilling won’t
==============================
That is probably not the best way to read the vote. The current level is > 75%, but Bonds & Clemens have done better with the public ballots than the private ballots.
In 114 public ballots, they have only picked up 1 vote. The need to pick up 53/54 votes each. The likelihood of the private ballots suddenly doubling their support is slim. I see no chance of them getting in.
IRT to Schilling, I think he would prefer to be voted in by the Veteran’s Committee.
Bonds right now has 80.9% of the votes, while I don’t know who’s doing what this year on private votes, Bonds will be in the Hall sooner or later. Not sure why voting in Piazza, and am sure many others to the Hall and not Bonds is fair. The Hall is already tainted with Ped users. Fact!
The hall is already tainted with some PED users bad that’s a pretty poor argument. Most of the people who don’t want Bonds, Clemens or Sosa in also didn’t want the other tainted users in. You’re not going to convince them to vote for cheaters just because some other people voted for cheaters. A lot of people who won’t vote for Bonds or Clemens want the other cheaters removed. Voting for more cheaters would be a step in the wrong direction.
I doubt Bonds and Clemens get in. Over their now 10 years on the ballot, they generally in recent years are above 75% threshold heading into January, but the private ballots always vote against them at a higher rate. I suspect they finish in the 65-68% range. Ortiz has a very strong possibility to go in this year. I do believe some of the private ballots will also go against him as the anti-PED sentiment is strong in this group, but probably not enough to derail him. Worst that happens is he waits one more year.
Yes.
8mill
10mill club
12 mill club
Dude is on a 3 year 30 mill contract plus possible QO.
Should net 2 top 100 pieces plus some complementary stuff
Mets get Marte
Dbacks get Baty, Mauricio, Ginn, Dom Smith, Jd Davis, Plummer
Mets put Marte at 2B McNeil at 3B
More of a retool than rebuild for Dbacks. Guys are ready or near ready to play.
That’s too much for Marte. Like way too much.
Dbacks make him available there wont be a lack of suitors.
Yankees, White Sox, Phillies, Angels, Mariners, Braves, Rangers all could make a play. All but the white sox could acquire him without hurting the MLB roster.
Less likely would be Dodgers and Giants though both have a need and means to acquire him, doubt Dbacks deal him in the division for 3 years unless theres an overpay.
@Joey Slye-vermectin
Yes. The White Sox have graduated all of their top-100 prospects to the MLB level over the past few years. Most of their remaining top prospects are young high school talents who were recently drafted and still playing A level minor league ball aside from some international talent and 3B Jake Burger who did make his MLB debut last year but still retains rookie status.
If Ketel Marte is made available the White Sox should be at the top of the list among suitors with a glaring need at 2B and perhaps RF. They might get a listen by packaging a sizable quantity of their top prospects but would more likely pull off a deal by dangling young pre-arbitration talent from among their ‘surplus’ of corner INF’s, OF’s and hard throwing pitchers. 1B/OF Andrew Vaughn would be an intriguing centerpiece to the Diamondbacks. Other pre-arb talent that could entice the Arizona front office would be LHP Garrett Crochet, 1B/OF Gavin Sheets and Burger.
I was thinking the same thing. Vaughn and Crotchet as big pieces of the package. Not sure that White Sox could put together the best package with multiple suitors. He’d fit perfectly into their team.
He’s not an easy fit for the Yankees. Based on how he played in CF for Arizona, no way they’d put him in CF at Yankee Stadium. They already have two 2B’man with LeMahieu and Torres. Offensively, he’d be a very good fit as he’s a switch hitter, high average, good contact. Defensively, though, I just don’t see where he’d play.
I would go the all-prospect route. No reason to add Smith or Davis. Both have some value, but not to a rebuilding team.
In fact, since Marte would have to play 2B for the Mets, I’d ask them to give me their best prospect package, including Cano.
If the Mets were able to obtain a high-end 2B, and drop a high-priced poor fit, they’d have to be interested in adding even more prospects.
AZ won’t be paying a lot of guys, and there is some small chance Cano could have a decent season, or just as good, there is a none-zero chance he could get busted again.
With LA and SF pretty stacked, and SD not yet out of it, this could be an opportune time for AZ to tank.
Cano has a full no trade clause. Plus why would he wave it when Mets are clearly wanting to win while the dbacks are going down hill?
Cuz he’ll start for Arizona but ride the bench in NY? Not saying he’d do it but it’s a reason he might.
Will he ride the bench?
Exactly, Cosmo2. He wants more playing time, which he will get in AZ and not with the Mets.
I certainly hope Cano is not starting.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Mets make Cano a bench player or simply release him. After 2 PED suspensions maybe Cohen will just wash his hands of Cano. It’s one of the few teams that can easily afford to do such a thing.
@cosmo2 at this point in his career I’m sure the chance at a ring is more important than playing time. With AZ there’s next to zero chance of an WS ring
I’m not so sure that the ring is more important. He’s chasing the HOF and has some pretty impactful milestones to potentially hit.
baseballtradevalues.com/trades/trade-68288/
Agree, too much for the Mets to give up. Plus, if you put Marte at 2B and McNeil at 3B, where do you put Escobar?
I’m fine with Escobar on the bench. I’m actually hoping for that.
That’s over twice what Marte is worth.
That’s waaaaaasaay too much, lol!
This is the kind of trade you propose in Out of the Park Baseball before hitting “Force Trade” when the other team laughs at you
Nobody hits “force trade” on OOTP bro
That’s a big overpay for Marte. You don’t need much more than Baty to get that deal done.
You’ll need a lot more than Baty. Baty has power, but I’m not yet convinced he’ll even be a pro. Every team will offer more than that.
Massively too much for Marte.
They should certainly stick to their guns on the type of package they are seeking. No real reason to trade him unless they get blown away. He’s young enough, super talented and controllable at a modest price compared to his market value.
His value is probably at its highest right now, not to mention the dbacks won’t even be contending while they have control of marte. Makes little to no sense to not get the massive haul they could pull this offseason with his versatility, multi-year control and cheap annual pay.
Yes, but only to the braves
He’s a guy you would love to build a team around, but in today’s baseball climate with the dbacks current situation, it is not feasible for them, and they need to try to get a good prospect package in return. Happy new year.
@leftykoufax
Maybe he likes playing in ARZ? Their payroll is not Laden with long term commitments. He’s affordable currently and money speaks. Why is it not feasible for the Dbacks to do what Atl did with Freeman? Sign Marte long term and build around him!
Worse farm, better division…Marte’s best days will be behind him before the Dbacks are close to competing barring some miracles.
At least a couple contenders need a 2B. Their top rated prospect might be enough.
Sell high. The DBacks lost 110 games in 2021 with Marte in the fold. Even if Marte is a 5 win player in’22, what good does that really do the club in the long term? Acquire 2 or 3 young players plus an MLB ready player who will peak during whatever Mgmt deems to be the team’s “window”. Sign every decent free agent left over at the end of spring training and hope to strike gold and end up with someone you can flip at the deadline for a decent prospect. The Blue Jays have a loaded farm system and would love to have an impact switch-hitter to plug in at second. The Yankees probably offer Peraza or Volpe in what would be ha huge deal because the Yanks have plenty of MLB bats they’re willing to move. There are at least 10 teams who would fatten up the Snakes minor league system for Marte. If Marte has another injury, his trade value plummets. The time is now to move Marte.
Perfectly put
Absolutely they should. Their farm is decent but lacks in top pitching prospects which is the only way you can turn around a 110 loss team. Especially in that division, there’s no way they’ll compete in the next couple years. Might as well sell high on Marte and get some pitching prospects from the Marlins to pair with Varsho/Carroll/Thomas/Lawlar. I fear if they keep Marte, their next wave of prospects won’t be good enough to carry a bad pitching staff and Marte will walk for nothing. Then they’ll be wishing they had committed to building a young core instead of foolishly trying to compete with this awful roster.
Colson Montgomery be enough? White Sox are trying to win now and already have a SS in Tim Anderson that I’m hoping retires in Chicago.
Not even close imo
And Vaughn and one of Crochet/Kopech
Maybe if the diamondbacks also included Kristian Robinson.
and Alek Thomas and Corbin Carroll
Hope that was a joke on Montgomery. He’s probably not even the headliner. Think more like Crochet or Vaughn.
No you need something like baseballtradevalues.com/trades/trade-68291/
If I’m Hahn, I’d think long and hard on that one. Burger is blocked, Montgomery won’t be ready until the window is closing. Only real loss is Crochet.
the easy answer here is you listen. even with the injuries Marte is an elite player who can play CF and cheap control left. you don’t just dump someone like that for anything less than a big haul.
He can’t really play CF, he was abysmal out there. But otherwise, good point.
They shouldn’t, but I want them too.
White Sox fans be like: will they take Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel for him??
Not all of us are like that. A Sox deal has to start with at least Crochet (and plenty more), more likely Kopech or Vaughn. Got to give value to get value.
baseballtradevalues.com/trades/trade-68291/
Straight up Eloy for Marte
I think Vaughn and maybe a young lottery ticket for Marte would be about right but perhaps the White Sox may have to overpay a little to get him because there should be a lot of interest for Martes services so maybe it would take Montgomery plus Vaughn.
I would hesitate on Vaughn straight up. I get your point, but Montgomery feels like too much an overpay.
I think Vaughn straight up in a perfect world but there is going to be a lot of competition for Marte so I think the team that gets him will have to over pay a little. I do think that Vaughn rakes this year but Marte is really good dynamic player if he can stay healthy.
Why do they need to trade him? He’s good, he’s young, and he’s on a long term contract. Trading him has a greater risk than reward
Because baseball is a team sport and their team is bad atm. When you only have 3 years of control and you’re not likely to be good during those years, having 1 good player doesn’t really help much.
I mean, isn’t there something to be said for keeping some entertaining players around for the fans to root for during the rebuilding years?
Sure, if you want to hamstring the rebuild and remain mediocre at best, that’s a fantastic plan.
Keeping a fan favorite isn’t going to hamstring a rebuild. Not even close. They can do it without the one or two prospects he’ll bring back, especially considering many prospects don’t work out anyway.
He’s their most valuable trade piece and the best way for them to infuse talent in a system that’s lacking. Yes, it will hamstring them. Many prospects not working out isn’t an argument against that, that’s why you need to accumulate as many as possible.
Your initial argument is rather flawed as well. Again, baseball is largely a team sport and Marte isn’t the type of player, like Ohtani/Trout/Etc. that could potentially put butts in the seats on their own. Keeping Marte to appease fans of an otherwise abysmal team is an awful plan.
Your use of the term hamstring is just too hyperbolic for me. The point is that many prospects fail. So if they trade Marte and receive prospects that don’t pan out is their entire rebuild hamstrung? No, it doesn’t work that way. I’m not saying they shouldn’t trade him, but there is value in keeping a more entertaining product on the field now, and other ways to improve the future besides trading away usable assets.
Couldn’t edit…to clarify, abysmal MLB team, I know they do have some highly-decently regarded prospects.
DBACKS are shockingly bad every year, they won’t win 50 games this year, trade Marte while his value is high
Considering the contract and and he can play CF the Yankees seem like a perfect fit. They have pitching prospects as well as two SS prospects which they can move one.
The Diamondbacks should get a good package from anyone considering the contract, Marte entering his year 27 and he can play two key positions for any team.
Any team that gives up much for Marte to play CF will quickly regret it. Have you seen the defensive stats on his play there? Horrendous. He’s a second baseman.
Rangers give up Nick Solak, AJ Alexy, Justin Foscue…..or maybe they could figure out Leody Taveras
@oneofthesedays
The Rangers have already stocked up with infield talent – to say the least – and the Marte experiment in CF was a complete failure. I’d be keeping those hamstrings calm by having him tiptoe around 2B rather than galloping round in the long grass.
They should probably trade him because he’s a boom and bust player. His year to year stats have always varied widely. Who knows how next year will go for him. His speed has dropped off the last 2 years. Hope those hamstrings hold up if they don’t move him.
One of the more underrated players in baseball
They should trade him to your favorite team for players that you don’t want anymore on your favorite team.
oh my gosh you’re on to something
Haha, comment of the young year right there
I know Bucky will yell at me for this, but I am surprised we haven’t heard a Yankee fan offering Torres & Voit, plus a non-premium prospect.
I rarely see proposals like that from Yankee fans. More often seems to be fans of other teams making those claims about Yankee fans, kind of like you just did.
Bottom line is that trade proposals from all fans suck.
Yeh, Joe Brady has a deep issues concerning Yankee fans and objective comments NEVER come from his Red Sox pedigree regarding the Yankees.
I am the most objective Yankee hater you will ever meet. I must have written 100s posts over the years about the NYY. Try to find even one which lacks objectivity.
You’ll find some where I am wrong, but they won’t be for lack of backup.
Go ahead. We’ll wait.
LordD99
I rarely see proposals like that from Yankee fans
=======================
I’m pretty sure someone suggested Voit for Crawford.
And someone else suggested “Yanks send Torres (24yo) Voit, Gio, two top prospects (Peraza, and Cabrera) .. Oakland sends Olsen, Chapman, and Elvis “
Oh, I have no doubt, but I see proposals like that from all fan bases. My point, though, is I’m way more likely to see posts accusing Yankee fans of those type of proposals. They come from all fans. Even Red Sox fans. : -)
Only trade him if the offer is too good to pass up. He’s affordable and somewhat versatile, but his stock is a little hampered right now due to his injury history. The Diamondbacks may be better off holding him for now. If he is playing well and injury free, and at the trade deadline, they’re in position to sell (as is expected), Marte’s stock may have improved enough to get a good return. I don’t think it’s recovered enough from his sub-par 2020 and injury plagued 2021.
Yea, exactly. If he has a really good first half (if there is a first half) winning teams could get into a bidding war at the deadline. Really maximize his value.
That’s the standard gamble. You have to gamble whether or not he will stay healthy and out-perform.
With a .909 OPS last year, my bet is he under-performs.
From a health perspective, he’s only had one season where he exceeded 144 games. I just can’t see a scenario where he is worth more than he is now.
If I were the Jays I would be looking to see what it would cost. Marte at 2b looks amazing and would add a dynamic sh to the lineup.
Hard to pay a really steep price for a player unable to stay healthy, and giving up prospects on a young up-n-coming team is never ideal… so I would inquire but not pay to steep a price
Jays’ window is opening. Now is when you trade some of those prospects to go all-in and maximize your chances.
Normally I’d disagree with trading the prospects but don’t the Jays exactly need a second baseman? Could be a fit.
We need a 3B or a 2B, more so a 3B. But we could definitely make Marte work!
baseballtradevalues.com/trades/trade-68293/
I think if Toronto were to make a run at Marte, they might want to try to work Bumgarner into the same deal.
I could see a prospects + Grichuk package going back to Arz who then have a legitimate CF who is cheaper than Madison’s AAV, and on a contract that expires a year earlier.
So the D-Backs get salary relief, plus prospects, plus fill a need in their lineup during the rebuild.
Toronto gets their 2B-man, and a #5 starter who A) only costs about $7M (considering Grichuk’s money was already on the books) B) could have a monster renaissance under Pete Walker and C) would be a battle-tested post-season arm on a young team that has precious little playoff experience.
Depending on what prospects Arz would demand, this seems like it could benefit both clubs in both the immediate and longer terms.
His value is unlikely to get higher and they have no way to contend this year. No sense in keeping him unless they want to gamble that deadline offers will be better. The return, though, should be for sky-high upside prospects in the lower minors, guys who are 2-3 years from the majors. As bad as they are, they need a few years of gathering more talent via the draft before contention becomes a viable possibility.
Is a Robinson Cano retirement article on the way after what he posted on Twitter?
Whatever happens, the Snakes will win a championship before the Mets do.
Oh hey, it’s you. Wonderful.
The decision could be affected by changes to the CBA. If teams continue to control young players for six years with 3 years at a low minimum salary and 3 years at suppressed arbitration salaries, the Dbacks should be listening to offers for top prospects who they will have the full six years of control over.
If the years of control goes down to 5 years (not likely, but possible), the Dbacks will get less value from prospects and might be better off hanging on to Marte for 3 years (or at least 2 or 2.5 years of the remaining 3), depending on the trade offers.
If the system is changed to 2 minimum salary years followed by 4 arb years, and especially if changes are also made to the arbitration system that would increase arb salaries, that might also affect the calculation for the Dbacks, but trading for prospects now would still probably be their best bet.
A franchise that has traded Scherzer, Goldschmidt, Bauer, Shilling, Sexson, Greinke, and Swanson should have had enough can’t miss prospects to contend for the next century, yet here they go again
He should be traded, but only if it’s to the Marlins.
Taking the “best offer this winter” is too limiting when he has three years of control at a decent contract. They should shop him, but no need to rush and limit potential return by putting a self-imposed time frame on a deal.
Snakes should keep Ketel Marte.
Snakes should offer MadBum for Cano and Smith.
Canó is owed 41 mil for 2 years, Smith 3 mil for 1, Bumgarner 60 mil for 3 years. Win win.
Both sides may have no trade issues but give it a whirl.
that’s an easy L for the Mets
Why? MadBum as a 5 starter at 5 million per year? Smith and Cano not high part of their plans.
I’d like the plan to be for Smith to be the DH, but a lot of fans would love MadBum at that price, yea
Trade for whoever offers the most towards the end of ST. I mean, Marte isn’t someone I’d build around, though he’d be a really good piece.
Blue Jays need to trade for him.
If the DBacks are looking for high end SP types the Jays just don’t have a surplus of those. What they do have (Hoglund, Kloff, and to a lesser extent Pearson) they shouldn’t be trading. Not this coming season any ways.
The Marlins are overloaded with young arms, and they could use an offensive spark plug like Marte.
If they’re absolutely set on Chisholm at 2B (opposed to maybe moving him to SS), that could be a problem. But they could still get both players on the field.
The Blue Jays are the other team that should target Marte. Batting ahead of Guerrero/Teoscar/Bichette, he would score 125 runs. The underrated Espinal can handle 3B, and then Biggio could be the utility guy.
It would take Biggio/Groshans plus a couple of the pitching prospects to get Marte. (Van Eyk/Kloff etc )
Love to see Marte hold down 2nd and cover for Springer in Centre. Totally ok with a high contact guy like Espinal at 3b we have enough HR power elsewhere in the lineup.
Yeah, that’s Toronto’s shortcoming here. The D-backs need help everywhere, except that they have a couple of really nice corner OF prospects who probably aren’t too far away. But I have to imagine that young pitching is the greatest urgency. They would probably ask the Jays for Pearson, but I don’t know that any other young Jays arms would appeal. (The Jays can supply middle-infield prospects all day long, though.)
That’s why the Marlins would be in a strong position to go after Marte.
I’d trade him if the deal is overwhelming favorable for the Diamondbacks future. Otherwise, their three years of cheap control on Matel is highly enticing.
Trading young, cheap, highly productive players that have multiple years of control doesn’t happen very often. It’s difficult enough when that sort of player only has TWO years of control. The value of such players are so high few teams are willing to pay the price.
On the other hand, the D-Backs did set one of the worst records in the modern era, though it should be said that teams are setting these kinds of records more often now.
Tigers (2003)
Orioles (2018)
Tigers (2019)
Astros (2013)
D-Backs (2004)
Orioles (2021)
D-Backs (2021)
(It isn’t lost on me that three teams account for six of these seven recent records but if I regarded this issue, my long post would be MUCH longer.)
All these teams were as bad or worse than the 2021 D-Backs and all of them from this century. So while I think their performance from last season was really bad, it’s not unheard of.
I think their record from 2021 will be some motivation but maybe not as much as some of us think. I also agree that they should trade him but I don’t agree that they should trade him for the best return available. If they don’t get the return they feel he is worth than they shouldn’t pull the trigger.
The one caveat I have is that I don’t know if the current front office should be trusted with evaluating a package proposed by another team for Marte.
Why keep him if he’s no good to them this year and is unlikely to see his value increase?
I could see his market value increasing as more teams feel the pressure to add a player, say, at the next deadline.
Maybe, but that’s a gamble. Injury, underperformance, some rookie or journeyman working out better than expected such that other positions are bigger needs…all could happen.
Or teams filling those needs via free agency or other trades in the remainder of this offseason.
With the caveat that we don’t know what kind of offers they have been getting…realistically, what is the likely hood that they receive a better offer at this deadline and how much better would that offer really be?
@hyrax. Imagine you own a store with a shelf life that expires at the end of the night. Would you decide to sell what you have left at a reduced price to attempt to recoup some of your loss? That’s a bad idea. What you might find happening is everyone figures out that you sell your expiring product at a reduced price so they just all wait until then. I’ve seen this same thing happen from a grocery store that was selling sushi. I know because I did it.
If the teams start letting talent go for lesser packages because they are in a vulnerable position than other teams will notice and try to do the same. You just can’t trade your players for lesser packages because your in a time vulnerable place because you will get taken advantage of.
Salary: Great point, well said.
Seattle should be all over this. Marte plays 2 positions that Seattle needs help with even with the addition of Frazier. 2nd base and centerfield and wouldn’t be blocking any prospects.
The Marte in CF experiment should be dead and buried. If you trade for him, know that he’s a second baseman, that’s it.
That would work out. Anyway to get his bat in the lineup. Could add Suzuki for centerfield.
Cosmo2
Agree, 2B or DH.
Problem I have is what the Mariners would have to pay to get him. I’d rather sign free agents at a higher price to keep our youth.
I’m not sure I would want Seattle locked into Bryant or Story. And not much left after them in the free agent market. Chapman or Marte would fill big holes on defense and the lineup. Rodriguez from Cleveland would be ideal but would cost a ton in prospects.
Ha ha ha ha ha. Dreamers gotta dream.
Marte will NOT be traded, period!
Hysterical to read how many fans think their team’s trash can net them a perennial all-star caliber player.
Equally hysterical to read self serving criticism of Marte that supposedly lowers his value as a way to justify offering nothing to get him on their team.
Love you guys! Always entertaining!
Then he can lose ~300 games, reach free agency and go play somewhere else while the diamondbacks will continue to flounder. I do not have any desire for the team I root for to acquire Marte, but keeping him on a team like the current diamondbacks’ team makes little sense for the long term success of that team.
FWIW, this is real life, and that’s what happens. Nobody goes to a yard sale hoping to find a Babe Ruth rookie card, and then expecting to pay market prices.
And no one in here will look to pay fair market value. Me offering two $10 players for your $20 player, is fair, but hardly compelling.
Only if they could get someone to take all of Bumgarner’s contract with him. Otherwise, keep him to build around
They’re in the same position the Angels are in with Mike Trout or the Nationals with Juan Soto. They really should trade him but no offer they would realistically get is good enough to make that move.
Marte is a good offensive player, but not even close to a Trout or Soto. Let’s keep some perspective here.
His value is as much his contract as it is his talent. If he played a league average CF, his value would be through the roof.
As bad as he was last year I’d run him back out there again after a full spring training and see if he improves. It’s already established he’s okay up the middle in the infield. What is worth more, a good 2B or a good CF?
I think if Toronto were to make a run at Marte, they might want to try to work Bumgarner into the same deal.
I could see a prospects + Grichuk package going back to Arz who then have a legitimate CF who is cheaper than Madison’s AAV, and on a contract that expires a year earlier.
So the D-Backs get salary relief, plus prospects, plus fill a need in their lineup during the rebuild.
Toronto gets their 2B-man, and a #5 starter who A) only costs about $7M (considering Grichuk’s money was already on the books) B) could have a monster renaissance under Pete Walker and C) would be a battle-tested post-season arm on a young team that has precious little playoff experience.
Depending on what prospects Arz would demand, this seems like it could benefit both clubs in both the immediate and longer terms.
Read all the comments from wannabe GM’s from the other teams. I’m a wannabe GM for the Dbacks. Here is what I want if I trade Ketel Marte (this applies to every team that inquires): I want your entire 25 man active roster AND all 30 Top Prospects! No negotiating down. No compromise counter offers.
Sound ludicrous? It’s no more ludicrous than any of the wannabe GM offers posted here, just the opposite extreme. Don’t want to acquire Ketel at that price tag? Then shop for someone else because I’m not budging off that asking price.
Yes Scott it’s completely ludicrous since some of the trade proposals are actually pretty good. I understand wanting to keep your Allstar player but suggesting that they trade him for as an example Vaughn and Montgomery from the White Sox is not ludicrous it’s probably a fairish trade maybe skews towards the D-backs. Keep an open mind and fairly evaluate other peoples trade proposals.
Diamondback will finish last in NL west in 2022 and maybe in all of the baseballs.