Ketel Marte is ruining his Diamondbacks legacy, and there’s no end in sight

Ketel Marte has done many things since deciding not to play baseball in Boston. 

He betrayed his manager. He angered his teammates. He infuriated legends of yesteryear who represent the best of the Diamondbacks, the old-school greats who would never dream of sitting out against Shohei Ohtani, who would never tolerate a player going AWOL and quitting on his teammates. And he divided the fan base and exposed his army of Stans, the dunce-cap crew who have consistently blamed the media for the recurring actions of a wayward player. 

At this stage of his career, the once-lovable Marte should be ascending as one of the greatest players in team history. Instead, he is earning Hall of Fame status for how to ruin a season and a legacy. And there’s no end in sight. 

Before Friday’s 9-0 victory of the Reds, manager Torey Lovullo sat down for one of the most important press conferences of his life. Given the circumstances, he handed it masterfully. He shifted between stern and vulnerable, concealing the details of Marte’s absence while exposing many of his own emotions. He made it clear that he was ready to forgive, eager to turn the page. 

And shortly thereafter, as his teammates played baseball at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix, video surfaced of Marte and his friends hanging out in a local casino. 

It was not illegal. It was not immoral. It was not wrong. In fact, it’s where Marte spends a lot of his free time. But it’s a terrible look given the tone of recent events. It’s the look of a player who knows he wields a financial hammer over the Diamondbacks, a player who knows he holds all the cards. And it’s a great way to further alienate and betray those desperately trying to build a bridge for Marte’s return in 2026. 

After the game, Lovullo was forced to deal with Marte’s casino appearance. On the fly, he landed in support of the player once again, as long as Marte shows up for work the following morning. You could almost hear the clubhouse groan. 

Before the game, reliever Kevin Ginkel voiced the frustration much of the clubhouse is surely feeling. And you can only imagine their anger and confusion and resentment on that fateful day in Boston, when the manager held off posting his starting lineup until the very last minute, hoping Marte would walk through the clubhouse door. They will need a good explanation and a lot of penance from Marte if/when he returns. 

Nobody wants this drama, especially Lovullo. But the Diamondbacks are contractually chained to Marte. They owe him $12 million in 2027; $20 million in 2028; $22 million in 2029; and $22 million in 2030. He also a player option in 2031 for $11.5 million, when he will be 37 years old. That’s a lot of money for an aging player who has badly injured his market value, a player who can veto any trade. 

There are also no good answers. Unless Marte can make peace, find peace and save the manager who has covered up for far too long. 

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7.

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