As the offseason approaches its midpoint, teams looking to bolster their rosters this winter still have plenty of valuable free agents to consider. However, one standout player not listed among the top free agents but making a significant impact in free agency is Ketel Marte, the second baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks. How Arizona decides to handle a potential trade involving Marte remains one of the biggest unanswered questions.
Arizona’s general manager Mike Hazen has acknowledged that while Marte is an All-Star second baseman and the team is hesitant to trade him, they remain open to offers. Teams seeking a superstar offensive player should be eager to engage with Hazen. Over recent years, Marte has consistently performed at an MVP-caliber level, not as a star on a struggling team, but as one of baseball’s most reliable talents. Since his 2015 debut with Seattle, Marte has produced at least 25 home runs, 135 hits, 85 RBIs, 70 runs, and 60 walks each season for the past three years.
In 2025, Marte batted .283, hit 28 home runs, and drove in 72 runs over 128 games, earning his third All-Star selection. In 2024, he was the third-place finisher in NL MVP voting behind Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto, and in 2023, he led the Diamondbacks to the World Series with impressive hitting and on-base numbers. Generally considered one of MLB’s top 10 players, Marte’s appeal in a trade is heightened by his highly team-friendly contract. He’s entering the second year of a six-year, $116.5 million extension, making his salary less than $23 million annually—a rare deal for a player of his caliber.
While some may wonder why Arizona would consider trading such a talented player, the answer lies in team needs. The Diamondbacks are in need of a young, controllable starting pitcher, and their offense is already strong. Trading Marte could net them a valuable pitcher and help balance their roster. Additionally, Marte will gain full 10-and-5 rights in April, allowing him to veto any trade proposals, which would limit Arizona’s leverage in future negotiations.
Though there’s no certainty Marte will be traded this winter, he would arguably be the second-best player available if he were on the market. He fits well into the lineups of contenders like the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, and Toronto Blue Jays, and could be a game-changer for any team aiming to improve their playoff chances. Ultimately, Marte might end up being the most impactful new addition to a team before the 2026 season begins.
Fan Take: Marte’s potential trade is a pivotal storyline that could reshape the competitive landscape of MLB. For baseball fans, it highlights the strategic balancing act teams face between talent and roster needs, demonstrating how one player’s movement could dramatically alter the fortunes of multiple franchises.
