If you’re a Mariners fan still holding out hope for a Ketel Marte reunion, well, the offseason giveth and the offseason taketh away.
Let’s start with the good news: Boston, one of the more serious suitors for Marte, appears to be backing off. The Red Sox have reportedly shifted their focus toward Willson Contreras, which matters because they were one of the few teams that matched both the talent and the financial muscle to make a real run at Marte. With them stepping aside, it looked-for a moment-like the Mariners might finally have a clearer runway.
But just as quickly as that door cracked open, another one slammed shut. Enter the New York Mets.
According to Francys Romero of Beisbol FR, the Mets are now believed to be involved in trade discussions for Marte following the departure of Jeff McNeil. That’s the kind of news that makes Mariners fans sit up straight and start refreshing trade trackers like it’s deadline day.
Here’s the reality: the issue has never been whether Marte fits in Seattle. He does-and then some.
He’s a switch-hitting, middle-infield bat with pop, speed, and positional versatility. He’s the kind of player who could instantly lengthen the Mariners’ lineup and bring a veteran presence to a young core.
But the real sticking point has always been what Arizona wants in return-and what Seattle has flat-out refused to give up.
MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer recently laid it out plainly during a Reddit AMA: the Mariners are interested, but the Diamondbacks are asking for a current, MLB-ready starting pitcher. And that’s where things hit a wall.
President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto and GM Justin Hollander have made it clear-they’re not touching their big-league rotation depth in any deal. That’s the foundation of this team, and they’re not about to chip away at it, even for someone as enticing as Marte.
To make matters more complicated, Arizona reportedly isn’t enamored with Seattle’s top pitching prospects as a substitute. The D-backs want arms that can help them win now, not in two years.
That’s where New York becomes a real problem. The Mets can walk into the room and offer exactly what Arizona’s asking for.
They’ve got arms like Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat-guys who aren’t just promising, but close enough to the majors to make a difference in 2025. That’s the kind of package that makes a deal happen.
So yes, Boston stepping aside may have briefly opened a window for the Mariners. But that window didn’t stay open long. The Mets have the pieces, the motivation, and now the opportunity to leapfrog Seattle in the Marte sweepstakes.
For Mariners fans, this is the same story on repeat: the dream is alive, but the cost remains too high. Until Seattle is willing to bend its own rules-or Arizona lowers the price-every Marte rumor is going to end the same way. With someone else stepping in and waking you up.