As of now, Ketel Marte remains with the Arizona Diamondbacks - but that hasn’t stopped the trade chatter from heating up. Arizona, looking to retool for the future, would love to flip Marte for young, controllable talent.
And on paper, the Atlanta Braves seem like a logical partner. They’re built to win now, and Marte’s switch-hitting bat and defensive versatility would fit nicely into a contending lineup.
But here’s the rub: what makes sense on paper doesn’t always translate to a deal in real life.
According to reports, any serious talks between the Braves and Diamondbacks would almost certainly involve Ozzie Albies heading west. And that’s where things get complicated.
Albies, despite a pair of down seasons at the plate, is still just 28 years old and under one of the most team-friendly contracts in baseball. He’s signed for $7 million in 2026, with a club option for the same amount in 2027 - a bargain for a player with his upside.
And let’s not forget, Albies showed signs of life in the second half last season. After posting a .606 OPS before the All-Star break, he bounced back with a .769 OPS the rest of the way - nearly back to his career average. The Braves know what they have in Albies, and selling low on a player with his track record and contract value isn’t exactly in their DNA.
Then there’s the pitching side of the equation. For Arizona to seriously consider a Marte deal, they’d want more than just Albies.
That likely means a young arm - and that’s where Hurston Waldrep enters the conversation. The 2023 first-rounder is viewed internally as a potential No. 5 starter next season, and with the Braves still dealing with rotation uncertainty, they’re not eager to part with him.
Atlanta’s rotation depth was tested last year, and while they’ve added veteran lefty Chris Sale, there’s still plenty of reason to be cautious. Sale turns 37 during the season and is in the final year of his deal.
Spencer Strider is getting more expensive, and Reynaldo López is only under team control for two more years. That puts even more value on young, cost-controlled arms like Waldrep - the exact kind of asset the Braves are reluctant to move.
The bottom line? Atlanta is looking to add a top-of-the-rotation arm, not subtract a pitcher who could grow into one. That makes it tough to envision a Marte trade materializing unless Arizona dramatically lowers its asking price - or unless another team with a deeper pool of young pitching steps in.
And even then, it’s not a slam dunk. Teams are increasingly hesitant to part with top young arms, especially in a league where pitching depth is more valuable than ever.
That’s the real hurdle for Arizona. Marte is a dynamic player, but the market for him may not be as robust as they'd like unless someone’s willing to overpay.
Could the Braves still get creative - maybe flip Albies and Waldrep for Marte, then address their rotation elsewhere via free agency or a separate trade? Sure, it’s possible.
But as things stand, the odds of Marte suiting up in Braves colors seem slim. If he’s moved at all, it’s more likely to a club that can meet Arizona’s price without gutting its own future in the process.