The Diamondbacks announced a series of roster moves today, including the selection of right-hander Trevor Richards and the recall of catcher Adrian Del Castillo, moves which were reported earlier. They also signed infielder Sergio Alcántara to a major league deal. Right-hander Juan Morillo was optioned during the break, opening one active roster spot. Today, infielder Tristin English was optioned to the minors and second baseman Ketel Marte was placed on the restricted list. Marte opened one 40-man spot for Alcántara. To open another for Richards, catcher Gabriel Moreno was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Per John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix, Marte is “taking some personal days.” Bob Nightengale of USA Today relays that Marte’s home was burglarized while he was away for the All-Star break. Perhaps Marte will be back in just a few days. Regardless, it’s less than ideal for the Diamondbacks, given that their season feels like it’s hanging by a thread at the moment.
The Snakes have been bit really hard by the injury bug this year. They have 11 pitchers on the injured list, many of whom won’t be returning this season due to significant surgeries. Naturally, that has impacted their ability to win ball games. They are currently 47-50 and 5.5 games back of a playoff spot. General manager Mike Hazen has said he would like the team to play its way into buyer position but it has felt like they might be drifting towards sell mode. Losing Marte for any amount of time doesn’t help, given that he’s one of the best all-around players in the game.
Blaze Alexander is perhaps the favorite to take over at the keystone in the interim but Alcántara will give them a fresh body on the roster. He got into one game with the Giants this year, going hitless in four at-bats. He has otherwise been in Triple-A, producing a tepid line of .206/.319/.252. He shouldn’t be expected to provide much with the bat but can play the three infield spots to the left of first base.
Moreno’s transfer to the 60-day IL is also less than ideal for the D’Backs. He was placed on the 10-day IL June 20th due to a hairline fracture in his right index finger. This transfer means the club doesn’t expect him to be able to return in the next month or so. They have been using José Herrera and James McCann behind the plate but will now go with a three-catcher setup. Del Castillo has great minor league numbers on a rate basis but has only played 14 Triple-A games this year due to injuries. He was reinstated from the minor league IL on July 1st.
Now that he’s healthy, perhaps he’ll get a chance to get some big league playing time while Moreno isn’t a near-term option. Del Castillo hit .313/.368/.525 in his major league debut last year. He’s hitting .288/.386/.559 in Triple-A this year but, as mentioned, in a fairly limited sample. Herrera’s line this year is just .197/.302/.268. McCann has a monster .375/.516/.708 line but in just nine games, as he was just added to the roster recently. He slashed .224/.279/.352 over the previous four seasons.
Photo courtesy of Dennis Lee, Imagn Images
It was reported that Marte’s house was robbed in recent days. I imagine that’s why the D-Backs placed him on the restricted list.
Poor guy can’t catch a break. Best wishes to him as he recovers mentally from all he’s been through recently.
The fan incident didn’t do well to bolster his image, and a burglary is the last thing he needed…
What do you mean the fan incident “didn’t do well to bolster his image”?? That fan’s behavior was the problem, not how Marte responded to it.
These athletes are human beings also…
What does a fan yelling insensitive stuff at Marte have to do with his image exactly ?
Oh so you are one of those guys that looks down on someone when they cry? Lame. Just because you are too afraid to show those emotions, don’t project onto someone else.
“Breaking down in tears” over your deceased mother is now shameful? My oh my. I feel bad for you. Honestly.
Anonymous poster rips MLB player for not being brave.
I’ve been on these boards for a long time and this probably takes the cake for dumbest thing I’ve read. Congrats 29braves
You’re right- it reflects his grief, empathy, and humanity. Your post reflects your lack of the latter two.
A+++ post, chops23.
It’s called sociopathy. It’s on the rise in American “culture”.
Like it or not, your image is that of an idiot.
>This world has become so soft
Are you against vaccines? Because I think you need the one for rabies.
The world need more softness, not less. In softness you have real strength, but you will never understand that.
I feel sorry for you. I wish you nothing but peace and happiness.
Great example. Ketel Marte / Negotiator vs drunk baseball fan / Criminal taking hostages.
Those situations are so alike.
My guess is that Marte is taking the leave because his house was broken into over the All-Star break, and he’s spending time with his family.
Read the writing on the wall, AZ.
Ketle Marte’s Arizona home reportedly was burglarized while he and his family were at the All Star Game in Atlanta.
arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/ketel-m…
If that’s true, it’s sad, but 99% of the burglarized population still has to go to work when they are victims of burglaries. And many of them cannot afford to replace their stolen items.
Still is incredibly stressful. Don’t judge. Same thing happened to Julio Rodriguez. They said the stress from all of it and the investigation and process is why he took the All Star game off. They’re human beings too.
I’m not judging. Where did I judge him? It was an observation of how fortunate he is, and an observation that despite the circumstances he’s still got significant advantages over most of the victim population.
Julio home was robbed May 1 but it is possible that helped sway his desicion to take time off. His wife was at home and barricaded herself in bedroom. Robberies by group targeting athletes. Julio, Castillo, Blake Snell and Richard Sherman. Good news they were caught!
Odd observation.
I’d like to think a decent employer would give somebody a day or two for something like this if they could
Yeah, I agree…. If they could. Many won’t or can’t because of the employee’s responsibility.
Some people just believe that life is more important than a baseball game. And I’m one of them.
The part that bothers me is that this is a “must win” series. I’d like to think that a guy of Marte’s talent would prefer to be with the team to help them win. If you have watched the Dbacks consistently this year and last, there is a softness to his game that I personally find off putting. I’ve never seen a player ask for days off like this guy. And for odd reasons like general stiffness or fatigue. And in important games. He asked for a day off because of fatigue last year in the last week of the season while the team was out of a playoff spot by one game.
Marte is also one of the reasons why the Diamondbacks are still not entirely out. If the Diamondbacks miss out of a playoff spot, just like last year, it won’t be because of Marte (or any other batter) missing one or two games. This is as much a “must win” series as the one where they got swept by the Marlins.
lol what clip?
You’re telling me 99% of the population can’t take 2-3 days off to get sorted? A normal job you can just take a few vaca or personal days and not even have to mention the reason.
I said 99% of the burglary victims, not the population. Many jobs will not give days off for your items getting stolen. 2-3 days off? Doubt it.
But my point was not judging him, it’s observing he’s in a tough spot, but not nearly as tough as a large majority of the victims in our population.
99% is pretty close to all.
Yeah, there are some cases depending on the job. But I think the Dbacks can use a backup for a few days.
Let’s respect the guy’s space a few days. We don’t know the details. Maybe he hasn’t been able to sleep yet. We don’t know much
Most jobs give you days off to use at your discretion, I don’t understand the argument at all.
2029Braves If Marte wants to take extra days off from a distressful personal event, he can. I think it’s bizarre that you’re judging him based on the amount of unpaid days he wants off. He gets back on the horse when he wants to and has earned that right.
Clipper is begggggggggging for attention. This has reached comedic proportions.
You’re an idiot, Boston. If anyone is begging for attention it’s the guy taking offense to a generic statement that doesn’t insult anyone, ie YOU. Stop trying to bait… it wreaks of desperation.
The only hard truth you’re failing to understand is that Marte is exercising his earned contractual rights. His reasons for missing time don’t matter. Keep in mind that both Yu Darvish, Ben Zobrist, and many others also missed a lot of games to attend to their own personal matters. But you keep double-downing on being wrong and make yourself sound ridiculous.
Lol. Keep moving the goalpost, man. You too!
That’s harsh. What about if the house is trashed and the home keeper is as rattled as fark. Just go off to work and leave it with her ? It’s a hard core employer that doesn’t give the man some time.
Okay, that’s all speculation and doesn’t change the fact many cannot take off work. I didn’t say they *shouldnt* give days off. Just that many don’t.
I also never said it was because the employer. I just said they can’t take off work. That may also be because they cannot afford it, don’t have the time off, etc.
It is. Educated speculation. I doubt he has asked for time off if they broke into his garden shed and stole the lawnmower. Common sense, Clip.
Doesn’t change the fact many don’t have the days off. I don’t understand what you are arguing. I said many people cannot take time off for this. You’re saying he deserves time off for this. Neither argument is mutually exclusive. It doesn’t matter how …..burglarized his house was. None of it changes the observable fact many people cannot take off work for several days.
I’m sorry, I don’t get the defensiveness over this.
Fair enough. I struggle with the concept that 99% of burglary victims can’t get a day off after a home invasion type burglary !
Like I said, so harsh. You people have a lot of richards managing people.
I wish you a better work environment clip, you are worth more than that
Freddie, you’re a heck of a guy. I appreciate the kind words. I’m fortunately not in that type of environment. I used to be because of my positional responsibilities, but I know and interact with many who are in that very position. It sucks.
I feel for Ketel. It’s shameful someone invaded the privacy of his home in that way.
How about when the mother of your 5 kids says “Thanks Honey,
Really appreciate you stepping up and staying with us, but you probably should get back to work. I’m good”
FFS. NFI.
Sure thing tough guy. You really think that sexist pig take works ?
She is the mother of 5 kids. He is 31 so they would all be young. Living in that house with them while Dad is off somewhere playing baseball.
The law of averages strongly suggests she would be rattled if home got compromised. There is no decent man on Earth leaving her there until she is comfortable and feels secure.
Lay off of Marte!! He just needs to go to his safe space! Poor baby.
Maybe he should use a small amount of that 14 million to get a good security system on his place?
Most people could take some vacation time and get things taken care of. His vacation time is in the winter.
Buck up, cupcake.
Have you considered shutting up for the rest of your miserable life?
Your mom should’ve swallowed
Underrated post. His mom lacked “technique”.
“Buck up cupcake”? Who never gave you the space to feel humanity and empathy? I’m sorry you weren’t give that. You deserve it.
Two more insensitive posters fall by the wayside.
El Kabong: you say I’m insensitive for saying a majority of people can’t take off work for multiple days Wow, that was a statement about how hard it is for everyday working Americans, not throwing shade at Marte.
It’s incredible the flack one takes for making such a generic sympathetic statement about normal, everyday crime victims in America. Talk about people being insensitive…..
I read your comment about Marte as critical of him for taking the time off, so it doesn’t surprise me that others read it that way as well.
I take your point, man, but you’ve chosen a very strange hill to die on here.
Well, I get that. Appreciate the honest feedback. It just took me back that so many took offense when I had no intention of it reading as an off-handed comment. You’re right though, I give up trying to clarify myself for random people looking for a fight.
Some guys just need to feel better about themselves.
First hearing his mom getting taunted, and then his home getting robbed, poor Ketel can’t catch a break.
He got a contract extension not long ago. Ken gave his underrated superstar some more money and more years.