The Ketel Marte situation has gone from confusing to ugly in a hurry, and the Diamondbacks are now dealing with more than just an absence in the lineup.
Marte, who was scheduled to start at designated hitter against the Boston Red Sox on Monday night, never showed up for the game. Arizona responded by putting him on the restricted list, and the questions started immediately about what was going on with the 32-year-old second baseman. Since then, Marte has been moved to the injured list, and this past week he was seen liking an Instagram post that said he no longer wanted to play for the Diamondbacks.
That backdrop has clearly shifted the way manager Torey Lovullo is talking about the situation. Lovullo initially sounded concerned, but his tone has hardened as the picture around Marte has become clearer.
“I was hurting. I was clearly hurting.
Torey Lovullo on the change in his emotions as this Ketel Marte situation has transpired:
— Blake Niemann (@Blakes_Take2) August 21, 2026
"I was hurting. I was clearly hurting. Once I saw what was unfolding, I became extremely frustrated, and I felt betrayed. And that's a whole different type of pain."@FOX10Phoenix pic.twitter.com/sLx22EqaYT
Once I saw what was unfolding, I became extremely frustrated, and I felt betrayed. And that's a whole different type of pain,” Lovullo said prior to the Diamondbacks' Friday night contest at home against the Cincinnati Reds, via Blake Niemann of FOX 10 Phoenix.
The frustration isn’t limited to the dugout. General manager Mike Hazen said Marte owes a lot of people in the organization an apology for what has happened, while Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall called the whole thing a “mystery.”
At this point, the relationship looks badly damaged. Arizona is not happy about Marte disappearing in the middle of a road series while the team is fighting for a Wild Card spot, and Marte’s recent behavior has only fueled the sense that he wants out.
It also does not help that Lovullo, who has managed the Diamondbacks since 2017, appears to be part of the fallout. Given everything that has happened, it would not be a shock if Marte has already played his last game for Arizona.
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For Arizona, the broader concern is not just one night or one arm, but how quickly the group can steady itself against a Cincinnati team that has also slipped in the NL Central. The Reds have not been able to sustain their early push, and the Diamondbacks know this is the kind of series that can either help them regain traction or deepen the tension around a stretch that already feels heavier than the standings might suggest. [Read more 🡒]