Ketel Marte trade rumors have quieted since the MLB Winter Meetings, as the Arizona Diamondbacks seem focused on retaining their All-Star second baseman. On Tuesday, Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen addressed Marte’s trade availability, mentioning ongoing contract negotiations but indicating a resolution is near. Hazen expressed that a trade likely won’t happen and emphasized the need to move on and concentrate on other offseason priorities.
The Boston Red Sox have been most frequently linked to Marte recently. Arizona reportedly seeks a young pitcher in return, and Boston has two promising left-handed pitching prospects, Peyton Tolle and Connelly Early. However, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow may consider this asking price too steep. Thor, Boston’s top pitching prospect, and Early, who showed promise in his rookie MLB season, represent significant assets, making a trade for the 32-year-old Marte a risky move despite his talent.
Still, the Red Sox need powerful hitters following their acquisition of first baseman Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals. Re-signing Alex Bregman remains a possibility, along with potential free agent targets like Bo Bichette and Eugenio Suarez. Should Marte talks falter, Boston might turn attention to Cardinals utility player Brendan Donovan or Astros infielder Isaac Paredes.
In the 2025 season, Marte, a switch hitter, posted a strong .283 batting average with a .376 on-base percentage and a .517 slugging percentage, including 28 home runs and 72 RBIs in 126 games. Defensively, Marte has been solid at second base with an above-average defensive rating, maintaining a +10 Outs Above Average over the last three seasons (+8 OAA in 2024).
Fan Take: This potential trade saga highlights the crucial balancing act teams face between building for the future and aiming for immediate success. For baseball fans, it underscores how strategic decisions around player development and high-profile acquisitions can shape the competitive landscape in exciting and unpredictable ways.
