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Ketel Marte isn’t going anywhere
According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Marte “will remain” with the Arizona Diamondbacks and won’t be traded following weeks of speculation.
Keeping Marte reportedly won’t close the door on potentially signing Alex Bregman in free agency.
“A scenario exists in which the Diamondbacks could sign Bregman even after keeping Marte, according to people briefed on their plans,” Rosenthal reported.
But more likely, the team will focus on supplementing its bullpen and adding a right-handed hitting first baseman.”
Marte turned 32 in October and is signed through the 2031 season. He’s owed $16 million in 2026.
Marte is coming off a second consecutive All-Star campaign in 2025, during which he slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 doubles, 28 home runs and 72 RBI.
The second baseman has developed into one of MLB’s best switch hitters in the nine seasons since he was traded by the Seattle Mariners ahead of the 2017 campaign.
He also played a central role in the D-Backs’ 2023 trip to the World Series, batting .329 in 17 postseason games before Arizona lost out on the title to the Texas Rangers.
The Diamondbacks recommitted to Marte as recently as April 2025, when the club signed the second baseman to a $116.5 million extension running through 2031.
But after falling short of the postseason for a second straight year, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported in November the Diamondbacks were “definitely motivated in moving him.”
Part of the motivation to move Marte stemmed from the Diamondbacks looking to get out of his contract before his 10-and-5 rights activated and granted him the ability to block any trade, according to Nightengale.
With Marte back in the fold, the Diamondbacks will look to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2023 after posting an 80-82 record a season ago.