If you're a team looking to add some serious juice to your lineup this offseason, Ketel Marte is exactly the kind of name that gets front offices talking. The Arizona Diamondbacks’ star second baseman is one of the most dynamic bats potentially available via trade, and with the Toronto Blue Jays facing the possibility of losing Bo Bichette, their interest in Marte makes a lot of sense. But here’s where things get really interesting: a recent report suggests the Blue Jays may have a clear path to landing him - one that doesn’t include the New York Yankees as competition.
According to Ken Rosenthal, Marte has a five-team no-trade list built into his contract. That list includes the Yankees, which is a game-changer.
Toronto? Not on it.
That gives the Blue Jays a serious leg up in any negotiations with the Diamondbacks. In a market where every edge matters, this is a big one.
Let’s break it down. Marte’s no-trade clause reportedly includes the Yankees, Athletics, Pirates, Giants, and Cardinals.
That means if Arizona tried to send him to any of those five teams, he’d have the power to veto the deal. But Toronto?
They’re in the clear. That doesn’t guarantee a trade will happen, but it certainly simplifies the process if the Blue Jays decide to go all in.
And they might be tempted. Marte is coming off a strong 2025 season with an OPS just shy of .900 - .893, to be exact.
He’s a switch-hitter with pop, speed, and defensive versatility, and he’s under team control through 2030 on a very manageable $105 million deal. That’s the kind of player who can change the shape of a lineup and give a team like Toronto a major boost, especially if they lose Bichette or decide not to pursue another big bat like Kyle Tucker.
Now, if the Jays do manage to re-sign Bichette or land Tucker, the urgency to trade for Marte might lessen. But even then, they’re in a favorable position. They don’t have to outbid the Yankees - who can’t make a move without Marte’s blessing - and they’ve got the kind of prospect capital and payroll flexibility to make a deal work if they want to.
Bottom line: Ketel Marte is one of the most intriguing names on the trade market this winter, and the Blue Jays are sitting in a strong position to make a move. With the Yankees effectively out of the picture due to Marte’s no-trade clause, Toronto has a cleaner runway to negotiate with Arizona. Whether or not they take off remains to be seen, but the opportunity is there - and it’s a big one.