What is Ketel Marte’s future in Arizona? Here’s what each D-backs decisionmaker said

With Torey Lovullo set to return as the Diamondbacks’ manager next season, questions now linger about what second baseman Ketel Marte’s future is in Arizona.

2026 was a turbulent season for Marte after he did not show up at Fenway Park for the D-backs’ series against the Red Sox in August and did not tell Lovullo or the team he would be absent. He was later placed on the 10-day injured list before returning to the team on Aug. 31.

Marte’s absence marked the fourth time in the last four seasons that the three-time All-Star was absent from the team for an unexcused absence.

Marte had a down year offensively, slashing .249/.316/.432 with 22 home runs and 76 RBIs in 141 games played.

If the D-backs wanted to move on from Marte this offseason, things could become complicated as Marte’s 10-and-5 rights (10 years in the MLB, five on the same team) in his contract kicked in on April 3, which gives him a full no-trade clause. He is under contract with the D-backs through 2031.

Here is what some of the D-backs decision-makers told Arizona Sports this week regarding Marte:

Torey Lovullo says he can’t protect Ketel Marte like he used to

Manager Torey Lovullo told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo Thursday that he can’t manage Marte like he used to.

“I think what I would tell him is what I would tell every other player, that the decisions you make are going to be on you now,” Lovullo said.

“I’m going to eliminate protecting you the way I have. And I will allow you to go out there and answer the questions on your own behalf instead of me protecting you. I think I would change my tune in that way.

“I’ve taken the mindset that whenever anything goes wrong, it’s my fault. And I’m going to protect these players like they’re my own boys. And at a certain point, I can’t do that anymore. So I have to allow them to advocate for themselves in the proper space. That’s what I’ve learned over the past couple of years.”

Mike Hazen says Torey Lovullo returning is not related to Marte’s future

General manager Mike Hazen told Wolf & Luke Friday that Lovullo’s return to the D-backs next season does not relate to Marte’s future in Arizona.

“Those things are not related one way or another. Those guys, they have a great relationship. They do very well together,” Hazen said. “I understand the questions with Ketel, I totally get it. We haven’t even started digging into the offseason yet. I don’t know where all this is going to go. I do think one of the things that I need to take a hard look at is we failed.

“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?” the GM continued. “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.”

Derrick Hall on noise around Marte

D-backs CEO and president Derrick Hall told Bickley & Marotta Friday that conversations and changes would have to be made for Marte and the D-backs to move forward.

“He’s under contract. He’s a 10-and-5 guy, so he’s got control here,” Hall said. “But the reality is he’s one of the best players in baseball. And when he’s locked in, he’s a near-impossible out. And that’s where you want him to be.

“There’s a lot of noise around him, we understand why. He needs to understand it. He needs to understand why there’s a lot of noise around him. I think there’s several changes and conversations with him that would have to be made.”

Ken Kendrick says it’s Lovullo’s job to manage Marte

D-backs owner and managing general partner Ken Kendrick told Burns & Gambo Friday that it’s not his job to micromanage players and that it will be on Lovullo to manage Marte. Kendrick added that the team has had “unfortunate acts of immaturity” and that it needs to end.

“It is not my job to micromanage the players. It is Torey’s job to manage the players. He’s going on record now in a way that you described. And I hope that Ketel, if he is a Diamondback, I hope will be the player that he has the talent to be. And I hope he will overcome his consistent acts of immaturity,” Kendrick said.

“That is what his manager should be doing, not me. I don’t mean it to come out as I don’t have any responsibility in all of this. I do. But the primary responsibility for the ball players is the field manager once they’re selected by the general manager. And we’ve had a lot of good results from Ketel, and we’ve had some unfortunate acts of immaturity, and that needs to end.

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