Despite trade rumors percolating throughout the entire offseason, Ketel Marte will stay. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Diamondbacks will not trade their All-Star second baseman, which was later confirmed by Francys Romero and The Arizona Republic‘s Nick Piecoro.
Marte, 32, has been in Arizona since they acquired him following the 2016 season. He has been a franchise stalwart ever since, as he owns a career .283/.358/.493 slash with 168 home runs. His career accomplishments include three All-Star selections, a couple of Top 4 MVP finishes, and the 2023 NLCS MVP. His 33.1 bWAR ranks second in franchise history behind Paul Goldschmidt (39.9).
With a pitching staff decimated by injuries, the Diamondbacks dangle Marte as their best trade chip. The team was insistent on getting a return befitting of a superstar player on a team-friendly contract.
The ask was for at least an established starting pitcher. Per The Arizona Republic‘s Nick Piecoro, the Diamondbacks discussed Ryan Pepiot and Shane Baz with the Rays at the Winter Meetings. Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reported that Arizona wanted multiple high-level prospects, along with a young starting pitcher.
With it being abundantly clear that no team wanted to meet that price, the Diamondbacks have chosen to hold onto their star second baseman.
What Keeping Ketel Marte Means for the Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks have committed to keeping Ketel Marte, which is a very consequential decision for the franchise. Marte’s 10-and-5 rights will kick in on April 6. That means Arizona will no longer be able to trade him without his consent.
The upside is the Diamondbacks will keep the best second baseman in baseball on a team-friendly deal. Marte is owed $91 million for the next five years, with $41 million of it deferred, plus a player option for 2031 worth $11.5 million. It’s conceivable that he could play the next five, possibly six seasons in Arizona if he wants.
Marte is coming off another strong season in 2025. In 126 games, he batted .283 with 28 home runs and a 145 wRC+. The latter metric was the top mark of any Diamondbacks batter, narrowly edging out right fielder Corbin Carroll (139) and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (138). That trio is entrenched in the top third of Arizona’s batting order for the foreseeable future, as they’re all locked up to extensions.
The team will need to address Marte’s behavior. As one of the best players in baseball, he can occasionally take too many liberties. He’ll randomly ask for off days when he doesn’t feel like playing and then shut down if he doesn’t get his way. That has irked some of his teammates, who expressed their frustration in an August report from The Arizona Republic.
Plus, there was the entire saga after the All-Star break in which Marte was absent. He didn’t board the team-chartered plane back to Arizona and remained in the Dominican Republic for the weekend, while his Scottsdale house was burglarized. Marte returned to Chase Field the following Sunday.
What’s Next for the Diamondbacks?
With Marte remaining a Diamondback for the foreseeable future, the team now has to move on. Their offseason now starts, with improving the pitching staff being the top priority.
The bullpen is the obvious need to address. Arizona relievers compiled a 4.82 ERA in 2025, ranking 27th in baseball. However, perhaps the more concerning statistic was that they logged the fewest shutdowns (115). A shutdown is a reliever appearance that improved the club’s win expectancy by 6%. So their bullpen did very little to improve the team’s chances of winning.
The Diamondbacks have retained most of their relievers. A.J. Puk, Kevin Ginkel, and Ryan Thompson all avoided arbitration on January 8, locking in their salaries for 2026. Having full seasons of Andrew Saalfrank and Brandyn Garcia could also help the bullpen.
However, the clear spot that’s lacking is the closer role. The latest report indicates that the team is seeking someone to fill in while Puk and Justin Martinez recover from elbow surgery. Former Phillies, Orioles, and Blue Jays reliever Seranthony Dominguez makes the most sense if the Diamondbacks go into free agency.
Report: Ketel Marte is Staying in Arizona After Trade Rumors