After missing out on Kyle Schwarber, the Cincinnati Reds have reportedly shifted their focus to Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ketel Marte. And on paper, it’s easy to see why.
Marte, fresh off a 2025 All-Star nod, brings a switch-hitting bat with pop and a career .823 OPS-exactly the kind of offensive juice Cincinnati lacked last season. If you're the Reds, a player like Marte could slot into the heart of your lineup and instantly raise the ceiling of your offense heading into 2026.
But the numbers only tell part of the story-and in Marte’s case, the off-field context matters just as much as the on-field production.
Last season, Marte missed the first three games after the All-Star break, citing a personal matter. While he eventually addressed the absence, the delay in communication reportedly caused friction inside the Diamondbacks clubhouse. Some teammates were said to be frustrated, especially considering a few were playing through injuries while Marte was asking out of the lineup more frequently, including during the final week of the regular season.
He ended up playing in just 126 games-the fewest he’s logged since 2021, when he was hampered by a recurring hamstring issue. And while injuries are part of the game, the perception that Marte was less than fully committed down the stretch didn’t sit well with everyone in Arizona.
That’s where Reds manager Terry Francona’s recent comments from the MLB Winter Meetings come into play. Speaking on MLB Network Radio, Francona gave a clear window into the type of culture he's building in Cincinnati.
“I loved our team,” Francona said. “Now we weren’t the finished product and we never said we were.
But you know how that first meeting in spring training, when everybody says, ‘Hey, here’s what we’re going to try to live by.’ Everybody says the same thing.
You know, hustle, be on time. We didn’t have somebody be late the entire year.
That’s never happened in my life.”
That last line hits hard. “We didn’t have somebody be late the entire year.”
That’s not just a throwaway comment-that’s a manager drawing a line in the sand about expectations. Francona is clearly focused on accountability, consistency, and a team-first mentality.
And while Marte is undeniably talented, the questions surrounding his reliability and locker room presence raise legitimate concerns about how he’d fit into that culture.
The timing of Arizona’s willingness to shop Marte also raises eyebrows. Just a year after signing him to an extension, the D-backs are reportedly open to moving him before he earns 10-and-5 rights (10 years in the league, five with the same team), which would give him full no-trade protection. That kind of urgency from Arizona suggests this isn’t just about roster flexibility-it might be about moving on from a player they no longer see as part of their long-term core.
For the Reds, the calculus is tricky. Marte’s bat would be a clear upgrade.
He’s a dynamic offensive player who can hit for average, get on base, and provide some thump from a premium position. But if Francona’s culture-first approach is going to be the foundation of Cincinnati’s next contending team, then any addition-especially a high-profile one-has to fit that mold.
So while the Reds are right to explore every avenue to improve their offense, Marte’s situation is a reminder that talent alone isn’t the only factor. Fit matters.
Culture matters. And based on what we’ve seen and heard, this might be one of those times where the best move is the one you don’t make.