While general manager Mike Hazen has characterized the trade of a star hitter from his roster as “mostly unlikely,” teams are still going to make an effort to pry second baseman Ketel Marte loose this winter. John Gambadoro of 98.7 Arizona Sports reports that at least seven teams have inquired with the D-backs about Marte’s availability in recent days. Hazen has said publicly that he’ll at least hear interested teams out as a matter of due diligence — “I still have to do my job,” he told Gambadoro just yesterday — but that’s far from the same as calling other clubs and initiating Marte conversations on his own.
Marte, 32, is coming off a trio of monster seasons in Arizona. Dating back to 2023, he’s slashed a combined .283/.368/.519 with 89 home runs, 77 doubles, 11 triples, 19 steals (in 24 tries), an 11.2% walk rate and just a 16.7% strikeout rate. Marte’s paltry 14.9% strikeout rate in ’25 was his lowest since a 13.7% mark back in 2019. On top of that excellent production, he’s owed $102.5MM over the next six seasons — an eminently affordable rate in today’s game. (The sixth year on that commitment is an $11.5MM player option.)
All of that makes a compelling case for Arizona to simply keep Marte and continue to build around him, outfielder Corbin Carroll and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. All three have cemented themselves as star-caliber talents, thanks in no small part to Perdomo’s sensational breakout showing in 2025. All three are signed long-term and locked in through at least the 2030 season.
At the same time, the D-backs have a crowded payroll and need significant help on the pitching side of the equation. Corbin Burnes will miss most or all of 2026 following Tommy John surgery performed back in June. Zac Gallen is a free agent. Merrill Kelly was traded at the deadline. The D-backs’ top two relievers, A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez, both had UCL surgery earlier this year as well.
Presently, their rotation includes veteran Eduardo Rodriguez, coming off back-to-back seasons with an ERA just over 5.00, and 27-year-old righties Ryne Nelson and Brandon Pfaadt. Nelson had a breakout performance in 2025, but Pfaadt’s longstanding home run troubles continued as he pitched to a 5.25 ERA in 176 2/3 innings. The D-backs don’t have any other healthy starters who’ve logged even a full season at the MLB level. Twenty-eight-year-old Tommy Henry, who had UCL surgery back in June, is the only other starting pitcher on the 40-man roster with more than 105 MLB innings under his belt. He has a 5.07 ERA with worse-than-average strikeout and walk rates.
By all accounts, the D-backs still hope to contend around a core including Carroll, Perdomo, Marte, Nelson and standout catcher Gabriel Moreno. They’ll need to add at least two starting pitchers to the equation and bring in multiple relievers. They also lack clear solutions at the two infield corners and could use another outfielder — particularly with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. sidelined by a late ACL tear.
It’s a daunting task on the surface — and one that’s made even trickier by the fact that owner Ken Kendrick has already acknowledged that payroll will drop below last year’s franchise-record levels. Thanks largely to their surprising signing of Burnes, the Snakes logged an Opening Day payroll north of $190MM. RosterResource currently projects them for about $143MM in 2026 commitments, though that number could drop depending on what happens with their arbitration class. Puk, projected for a $3.3MM salary, will likely be non-tendered given that he’ll be a free agent next winter and had UCL surgery in late June. Right-hander Kevin Ginkel ($3MM projection) and outfielders Jake McCarthy ($1.9MM) and Alek Thomas ($2.2MM) could all be non-tender or trade candidates after disappointing seasons.
Those arbitration decisions won’t move the needle all that much, however — not when there are this many holes to fill. Trading Marte wouldn’t be popular but could net multiple big leaguers — presumably at least one in the rotation — and trim $15MM from next year’s payroll. The D-backs would be hard-pressed to claim they’re better in 2026 without Marte than they are with him, however, and they understandably appear to prefer keeping him and building out the club with a lighter payroll target than in ’25. Robust interest notwithstanding, it seems likely that they’ll hang onto Marte barring a massive return that also frees them to more aggressively attack the free-agent market.
Every time I see Pfaadt it makes me think of Don Martin cartoons in old MAD magazine. On Topic, they should get whatever they can for Ketel One and rebuild.
The Reds needs to sign him
He’s not a free agent. If you don’t know the terminology just be quiet
😳
I wonder if Hazen saying “mostly unlikely” to a trade is a bit of posturing, and would trade him if the return could fill some holes. With Naylor, Suarez, Gallen, and Kelly gone they have some holes to fill. Although I could see a reunion with Kelly. And I’ll admit to not knowing if they have guys in the pipeline though.
As unlikely as it is that the D-Backs would trade Marte to a division rival (and vice versa for the return), I wonder what the response would be if the Giants dangled Hayden Birdsong, Casey Schmitt and Luis Matos for Marte? It would save the D-Backs a lot of money and fill at least two spots for them. Could it be accomplished with a third team in the mix? Or would the D-Backs demand Heliot Ramos or Bo Davidson or Johonny Level, Tren Harris or even Bryce Eldridge (which would of course end the conversation)? Unlikely, I know.
I’d happily give up any of the above but Eldridge for Marte. Probably means they don’t have enough, division rival notwithstanding
My guess is the biggest needs in AZ are pitching and the IF, especially if they’re trading Marte. IMO they wouldn’t be interested in Ramos or Matos. Not sure Birdsong or Schmitt moves the needle for them either.
He’s under contract for the next 5 years averaging $18.2M per. There’s also a player option for the 6th, at $11.5M. My guess is they’re looking for a haul and would ask for something along the lines of Roupp, Whisenhunt, and Kilen, and/or Level. If he does get traded the acquiring team will pay a steep price.
The Mariners would make a great trading partner with the Snakes for Ketel Marte. Would love to see him at the keystone the next few seasons and the M’s have all kinds of pieces Arizona can use.
The Mariners had him once.
Would love a reunion tour.
I am with ya, SOB, K. Marte has a team friendly contract at 5 years $90 million remaining (or ^ years $102.5 million with player option for 6th year)….The DBacks want to move him before he becomes a 10/5 player this season when Marte can veto any trade going forward. Does Logan Evans and Johnny Farmelo get it done if the Mariners are taking on that salary or do they need to swap in Ryan Sloan for Evans? The DBacks have a lot of good young infielders, I don’t think they would want one back…….
I would throw in Harry Ford somewhere into the mix, I think they may want to lesson the load on Moreno due to injury concerns. Maybe a 50/50 split. Maybe we could send Vargas back to them as well lol (no I like Vargas; he just can be a little frustrating at times.) Marte & Naylor would be a nice offseason!!
Hey BigRed you need to change your screen name to incorporate both of your fave teams, something like “BigRed(&Teal)Machine(plus Trident)” or along those lines haha.
I know. I just grew up a huge 1975 1976 Reds fan. Big Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and Dave Concepcion fan.
I assume the Diamondbacks want at least one current MLB headliner and near term prospect.
I’d propose something like Kirby + Cole Young. This fills a need in their rotation and provides an immediate replacement at 2B.
Thanks for jumping in DH but I don’t believe we cannot trade one of our five current Starting pitchers if we want to get to the World Series in 2026. We would be taking on a huge amount of salary, I don’t think we need to trade a possible 2026 staff ace to get the deal don and the DBacks have a lot of really good young infielders.
Marte is only owed $13M next year. His long term deal is a bargain. If he was a FA this year, he’d likely be looking at 5yrs/$150M.
Losing Kirby hurts, but he is replaceable. We could separately look at a trade for Gore from a Nationals team that should have more interest in long term prospects if we want a near term fix. Otherwise, we could roll with Woo, Gilbert, Castillo, Miller and Evans, until Anderson or Cijinte are ready to be called up (likely around the trade deadline and if they need more time address via trade).
If we can get is done based around Evans, Sloan/Cijinte and Young, amazing, but he is one of very few players who trading Kirby for would make sense IMO.
DH, Totally agree that Marte’s contract is a bargain. He would help our line up in so many ways. Thanks for explaining your thoughts on including Kirby. I don’t personally think he is replaceable, especially salary wise, but I get where you are coming from.
M’s sign Geno and Sewald and Rojas and package them with Canzone and trade.
The Giants can use that dude
Spencer Arrighetti + Jacob Melton + Brice Matthews + LMJ
They want pitchers and to reduce payroll and that trade would increase their payroll and give them the Astros top two position player prospects so it doesn’t make much sense for anything they desire.
Arrighetti is a pitcher. Hope this helps your understanding.
He means pitching prospects, not former prospects with no value
Dang Casey, you took criticism toward your poor trade proposition personally!
Could be an intriguing old school trade centered around big league players rather than prospects if someone will send Dbacks a SP to plug in…….Keller of Pirates for example to address each of their weaknesses?
He’s not going anyway.
There are other players id trade first. Its going to be hard to fill roster holes this year. I hate to say it, but they did it again by overextending payroll on a starter as some sort of all in move and now dont have the money to compete
Only 7. Keller reynolds barco for ketel. Mckay fixes reynolds, and we pray barco works out.
I can’t imagine the dbacks would want to do that. the primary reason for listening to offers on ketel is to cut payroll, adding Reynolds and Keller would add $40 million which would be counterintuitive. Maybe if they were getting more prospects (or better prospects) than they would consider taking on the money, but I don’t see Barco alone moving the needle enough
You get reynolds interested in baseball again you replacement level Ketel, a flippable or solid 4, and a decent lh prospect
Start with Andrew Painter and Bryson Stott. Add minor leaguers as needed. Resign Ranger Suarez.
Does this imply letting Schwarber walk?
Absolutely not. Marte’s deal is enough of a bargain.
Peralta and Ortiz for Marte, move Turang to SS.
cheeseman
You do realize that the Dbacks have Geraldo Perdomo at SS?
Why would they want Ortiz?
Peralta, Uribe and the Brewers top 2 pitching prospects for Marte.
Leiter jung get er done
Phillies. Stott and Kerkering for Marte.
Way too light. A Marte deal has to be headlined by Painter or Miller, though I agree Stott will be in the package.
Did Hazen happen to tell Gambadoro whether or not giving a broken down Burnes a massive contract last offseason was a good idea?
The “broken down Burnes” who had made over 30 starts each of the previous three seasons, and made 11 more this year, with a 2.66 ERA before getting hurt?
THAT “broken down Burnes”?
You just described someone who is prime for an injury and the very reason why teams don’t want to give out long term contracts to SP.
More teams should go the John Lackey approach. If you get TJ the next year is league minimum. Now some people will say you won’t get any free agent starters perfect I won’t have any albatross contracts.
Wisenhunt (however you spell it), Schmitt etc, for Katel? Would that do it?
Depends on the etc., but probably not IMO.
Similar to what I suggested above, though I offered a bit more. But as I say, unlikely within the division.
Every time my son plays MLB the show ‘25, he’s always facing Wisenhunt with the DBacks. I just figured it was in the cards for him! Haha! Pete, that kinda goes both ways though huh? We really don’t want our prospects within the Division either.
I don’t think that’s close. I think they’d ask for Roupp and Whisenhunt plus an IF piece.
Phillies have what interest the D’Backs, I could see a deal involving more than Marte going to Phillies. I see Phillies getting a Marte, Thomas and a mid-level prospect(s) D’ Backs get Painter, Stott, and two prospects #12 through #30.
Including Thomas makes a lot of sense.
The Snakes need pitching, A LOT of pitching. If you are dealing a guy like Marte, the haul has to be huge. He is a super, up the middle player who does everything well. Your only concern is him just slowing down as he ages.
For instance the Red Sox would probably have to offer Tolle and Early for Marte. And as a Red Sox fan, I’m not sure I’d be keen to part with 2 SP who have already pitched well in the bigs and are cost controlled for a long time.
HaHaHaHa. You guys are hilarious. I’ll take one of the best players in the league, who is on an exceptionally team friendly contract…and I’ll give you the dregs on my team that I’ve given up on or simply want to move so I don’t have to cut them for nothing.
Here is a realistic trade scenario for Marte—Marte to the Pirates for Paul Skenes, straight up. Dbacks want pitchers and want to lower payroll. Works for Dbacks!
Pirates won’t do that despite Marte being a stud.
You’re right the Pirates wouldn’t do that, but @scottaz is correct in the value needed for AZ to trade Marte.
Marte is great. He’s also 32 and plays the keystone. 2B historically don’t play great past 35. The contract is friendly but he won’t be product for the entirety of it anyway. The Red Sox offering 2 really good, quality controlled MLB pitchers would probably be fair if not an overpay.
Your proposal of Skenes, arguably the best pitcher in MLB and cost controlled for a bit, for a really good, but 32 year old 2B is waaay off base(pun intended)
casual
Read some of the ridiculous proposals in this thread and which do you think is less off base than what I proposed?
Agree that some of the proposals are quite silly. Marte is great. But he is 32 and will decline in the next couple of years. The Snakes need to bring back either one actual MLB pitcher and a few prospects or 2 MLB, cost controlled pitchers who’ve at least shown they belong in the show.
You’re right I think dressing room stuff hurts a bit but if he’s getting traded it’s to one of the teams with the top farms see tigers or mariners. Granted the tigers farm doesn’t offer arms the dbacks may want.
The Mets have some young arms that the dbacks would be interested but the Mets also need pitching.
Any trade with marte moving is probably a 3 team trade unless dbacks demands come down
The Mets could move:
Sproat (#5 prospect in a top-heavy farm system).
McNeil (2B & 3 OF positions)
1-2 #20+ lotto ticket prospects
They could also swap McNeil for Vientos. McNeil has less control but is a solid bat and covers multiple positions. Vientos can be a DH/1B. He could be replacement level or he could be a 125 OPS+ bat w power & still arb eligible. The Mets wouldn’t move an arb eligible guy w power (but future 1B/DH), but he is the odd man out w Baty stepping up.
AZ will want Benge (not happening) or Tong, but I think Vientos showed enough to be tempting. You gotta give up quality to get quality, and Marte is worth the risk. Wrong side of 30 but a great bat and team-friendly contract.
The reds could be interesting trade partners as well. They could have a starter available and they’ve got some interesting prospects who are blocked and are seeking offensive upgrade.
How about from the Mets, McNeil and Tong for Marte??? Who say no???
The Dbacks say no.
AZ.
Probably need another prospect in the 15-20s to be reasonable. I really like Tong’d stuff and his rookie contract will help even out a pricey 40min roster.
An alternative would be David Peterson, who has been the most consistent SP for the last few years. I’d rather not, but if the Mets trade for a SP and sign another (e.g. Suarez #2-#3 type), Peterson could be an attractive piece. I wouldn’t send Tong or better w him though.
Dbacks trade Marte to the Mariners for Logan Gilbert and Andres Munoz
Gilbert isn’t going anywhere. Nor is Munoz. Not that AZ would take it, but I could see Seattle offering sp Cinjinte (sp), sp Evan’s, inf Cole Young, & catcher Harry Ford.
I could see the Red Sox being a major player for Marte if Arizona does indeed decide to trade him to free up some money for pitching and Boston decides not to re-sign Bregman. Red Sox could send them 2 starting pitchers (Kutter Crawford & someone young like Early, along with a promising IF prospect like Franklin Arias). This way, Arizona gets at least 1 guaranteed major league pitcher for 2026 and possibly 2 if Early impressed in Spring Training, along with Marte’s future replacement in Arias.
I do not believe the Dbacks will trade Marte. That said, the Dbacks want MLB ready, controllable pitching in any deal. Any trade not including pitching, pitching and more pitching would not be entertained. Nor would the Dbacks consider trading Nelson or Pfaadt as some have suggested.
Ok hear me out… the A’s want to increase payroll, add talent for Vegas, and will have a tough time signing free agents in Sacramento. Luis Morales, Max Muncy, Henry Bolte, Braden Nett. 3 of those guys are mlb ready, all could contribute this year. Morales would be the center piece as the top international free agent pitcher a few years ago that was very good in the MLB the last two months of the season. 97-99 with a plus slider. Muncy is still 22 and hit 12 homeruns last year in the mlb, can play 2b. The others have upside and should be in the big leagues at some point this year.
Kurtz, Marte, Wilson, De Vries would be an incredible infield. Probably won’t happen, but would be a ton of fun
“Probably won’t happen, but would be a ton of fun”
That would apply to 90% of what you just said in your comment with the current A’s owner.
I mean they literally have to increase payroll, they’ve already signed multiple guys to extensions to have them in Vegas so it’s not speculative they’ve literally done those things or have to do those things
Signing them to extensions doesn’t rule out being traded… We’ll see.
Sure. But it makes it less likely and shows some intent to put a better product on the field. The last few years the business incentive hasn’t been there to have a winning team, but there is a lot of incentive to put a good product together in a new city both in the short term and long term. Say what you want about fisher, he’s been a bad owner obviously, but I doubt anyone would argue that he doesn’t want to make money
Yeah I’m curious what his value will be. Seems tough to pin down. Because you’re right on both points, but he’s over 30. Seems like it would be more than the Devers return because of cost, but I also don’t think it’s multiple top 100 prospects or bona fide big league regulars
The Arenado trade seems like the best comp. I would think the D-backs would want a better return, but similar players at the time of the trade.
Yeah but the Rockies paid 50 million in that deal when they sent him to St. Louis I believe which kind of evens it out
Yeah arenado was 29, had 6 years and 199 million on his contract, but the Rockies sent 50 million in the trade. So basically 6 years 149 million for a 29 year old. Not perfect, but fairly close comp
He would be an awesome addition for Cleveland. Would fit extremely well with their approach, outside of the cost (of course, selah)…
Lots of lowball trade proposals in this thread. A team is going to have to overwhelm Arizona with an offer to convince them to move Marte.
Marlins say they’re gonna spend. They likely are being forced to. Marte would be a great way to get more competitive and add payroll.
Edward Cabrera
Ryan Weathers
Connor Norby
+ 1-2 top 20 org prospects
Brewers get Ketel Marte
Dbacks get Freddy Peralta, Trevor Megill, Logan Henderson/Chad Patrick, 2 more top 10-ish prospects in a deep Brewers system