Orioles reportedly have interest in trading for Ketel Marte

The trade rumors surrounding Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte continue to heat up as the Dec. 1 collective bargaining agreement expiration date looms.

This time, it’s the Baltimore Orioles coming up as an interested suitor for Marte, according to MLB insider Mike Rodriguez and MLB.com’s Orioles beat reporter Jake Rill.

Marte, who has been with Arizona since 2017, had a turbulent last couple of seasons due to some off-the-field controversies. Marte has had unexpected absences from the team every season since 2023. Most recently in August 2026, he was briefly placed on the restricted list after not showing up to the field for a series against the Boston Red Sox.

Frustrations that arose from these absences led to Marte being thrown into trade talks. However, D-backs general manager Mike Hazen told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Thursday that the team is “not close” to any deal being done, although he never shut the door on the possibility of a Marte trade.

“The payroll is probably not going to be the level it’s at, so that has to be some level of focus for us,” Hazen said. “We need to be open-minded to where that may take us. That could involve trades. I’m not close on anything right now to be able to tell you that something is imminent or going to happen, or even that far down the line, specifically anywhere.”

The Orioles are the latest of a multitude of teams to have reportedly checked in on Marte, a group that recently included the Toronto Blue Jays.

Marte has 10-and-5 rights, meaning he can veto any trade he’s a part of, further complicating negotiations. According to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, Marte is “not much of a trade candidate anymore.”

Marte has five years and $87 million left on his contract, including $12 million next season, making it reasonable financially for both a trade suitor to take on and for a D-backs team wanting to shed payroll.

If Baltimore was to be that team, a player like Jackson Holliday — a former No. 1 pick who also plays second base — could be an intriguing piece possibly coming back to Arizona.

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