The Arizona Diamondbacks may be headed toward a very different conversation this offseason, and Ketel Marte is right in the middle of it.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale said on Foul Territory that Arizona will be “much more motivated” to trade the All-Star second baseman after a rocky 2026 season. Marte does have a no-trade clause, but Nightengale suggested that might not be much of a barrier if Marte decides he wants out.
“He can reject anything he wants,” Nightengale said Wednesday. “But if he feels like he's not wanted in Arizona, why would he want to come back?”
Arizona has explored moving Marte before, only to keep the two-time Silver Slugger in place. Over 10 seasons with the Diamondbacks, he has hit .279/.352/.486, including a career-best 36 home runs in 2024 and an .893 OPS in 2025.
But this season brought a different picture. Marte’s production slipped to a .249/.316/.432 slash line, and the 2023 NLCS MVP also drew off-field attention when he no-showed a game at Fenway Park in August. The Diamondbacks placed him on the restricted list before later shifting him to the 10-day injured list because of a left knee issue.
Even with his value down, Nightengale believes Arizona could still find a market for him. He pointed to the Tampa Bay Rays, who chased Marte last offseason, as a team that could get back involved after their World Series appearance.
“I could see the Rays jumping back into this thing,” Nightengale said. “Obviously don't have to give up as much as a year ago.”
Nightengale also noted that Yandy Diaz could help make the fit more comfortable for Tampa Bay, since Diaz is a clubhouse leader. Marte still carries five years and $89.25 million on his deal, along with an $11.5 million player option in 2031, which could make him a relatively affordable target for the small-market Rays.
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