Diamondbacks expected to listen to Ketel Marte trade offers once again

For the second straight offseason, the Arizona Diamondbacks are expected to listen to trade inquiries for star second baseman Ketel Marte, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

The D-backs believe changes are needed after a third straight season of narrowly missing the postseason. Gambadoro reports they will “gauge the temperature on trade interest in players on their roster,” including Marte.

Talks to this point have been surface level, but November could be busier than normal for player movement given the threat of a potential lockout when the collective bargaining agreement ends on Dec. 1.

Marte’s name was in the trade market last winter, when the Diamondbacks were clear they would listen to offers but were not shopping the three-time All-Star. The club moved forward with the power-hitting infielder.

Since then, there have been complications.

Marte reached 10 years of major league service time, and his 10-5 rights give him a no-trade clause.

Additionally, Marte no-showed a game at Fenway Park in August and ended up going on the restricted list. This is the fourth straight season Marte missed an important game or games on his own volition. Three of those times he did so without alerting the team that he would be absent.

This past year, fans at Chase Field booed Marte when he returned for his first home series after returning to the team.

On the field, Marte hit .249 with a .748 OPS and 22 home runs this past season, his fewest long balls since 2022. He just turned 33 years old and is signed through 2030 with a 2031 player option.

General manager Mike Hazen sounded like his front office would explore shaking up the roster after the D-backs were eliminated in the final weekend of the regular season.

“I need to look at this team that’s been together since 2023, and is this the absolute right mix of players that we have on this roster to take that next level and go forward?” Hazen told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke in early October. “I do believe there’s some level of continuity that is good for us. It’s stabilized where the floor of our team has been, but we haven’t reached any ceilings since three years ago, and that needs to change.”

With the World Series ending on Wednesday, teams can start negotiating with their own free agents and make trades. Five days after the Fall Classic, free agency opens up.

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