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How Did Ketel Marte Betray the Arizona Diamondbacks?

Aug 10, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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How Did Ketel Marte Betray the Arizona Diamondbacks?

Originally posted on The Lead | By Baylan Wysuph | Last updated Aug 26, 2026 4:30 PM ET

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The Arizona Diamondbacks and their complete 26-man roster flew into the Boston Logan International Airport late last Sunday night. The team was prepping for a vital three-game series against the Boston Red Sox. Arizona sat one game out of the NL Wild Card, needing to beat a good Red Sox team to remain a candidate for the playoffs.

However, once it was time for first pitch, the D-backs’ $116 million second baseman was nowhere to be found. Star infielder Ketel Marte never reported to the dugout, took batting practice or warmed up at all. Although in Boston, he was not at Fenway Park with the team, and nobody knew why.

Since this mysterious absence last Monday, drama has clouded Arizona’s push for the playoffs. The story shifted from betrayal to bewilderment, then back to betrayal again in the span of a week. Here’s how Marte crossed an organization after a decade of calling it home.

The Plot

The Diamondbacks lost Monday’s game against the Red Sox, 11-1, but nobody asked about the 1o-run loss afterward.

“All I know is he’s dealing with a personal issue,” manager Torey Lovullo said at the time. “We’re trying to figure that out … I was doing my best to reach out to him, and there’s very little coming back.”

The D-backs placed Marte on the restricted list before the game even concluded. What separates the restricted list from the injured list is that, within the club’s rights, they can stop a player from participating in games – and more importantly, suspend pay – for failing to report.

Then, two days later, reports said Marte flew back to Arizona for an MRI before the series finished. The scan was on his left knee, which forced him to miss the prior Saturday’s game, but not Sunday’s. The MRI returned with inflammation, enough for Arizona to place him on the 10-day injured list.

That took place Thursday, the same day Marte first met with Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen since the absence.

“I thought it was a very productive meeting,” Lovullo shared. “We were able to say things that we needed to say to one another. We are going to turn the page on this as quickly as possible.”

After the meeting, both parties appeared content. Marte could take his time in Arizona’s rehab facilities and return when ready to play. But Marte took the demise of his reputation a step further, showing up at a casino during the Diamondbacks game Friday night.

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Marte gambled amid a playoff race, less than a week after disappearing from the team. For the record, he broke no rules with Major League Baseball or the D-backs themselves for playing at the casino. It is just a large, red cherry on top of the PR nightmare Marte’s put himself through this past week.

“It’s not a choice I would make,” Lovullo said. “He’s free to do whatever he wants … As long as he wakes up tomorrow and gets his work done at Salt River, which I am certain he will, that’s all that matters to me right now.”

The Aftermath

Marte hasn’t played a game with the Diamondbacks since ghosting them on Aug. 17. The earliest eligible time he could return from the IR is Aug. 30, missing a minimum of 13 games.

These are 13 of the most important games of the season. Over this stretch, Arizona plays two teams in the playoffs, all while clawing for the final NL Wild Card spot. Without Marte, the club has gone 3-3 and fallen an extra game back from the postseason.

He remains an essential bat in Arizona’s lineup, despite taking a step back in 2026. Marte’s roped in 67 RBI with a .246 average and 21 homers in 2026.

“When it comes to Marte as a player, there aren’t too many people that can replace a player like that … It is a miss; we’re missing a top-tier player,” third baseman Nolan Arenado said.

The energy in Arizona’s locker room seems like a mix of dissatisfaction, unknowingness and supportiveness all at the same time. A series of interviews by Phoenix’s 12 News after the Boston series showed many players mirroring similar attitudes.

“I don’t know the situation, so I can’t really speculate on anything; I just hope he’s okay,” newcomer trade piece Lars Noobar said. “I hope the knee and everything comes back clean because that’s concerning for us as players, as teammates and as a team.”

“A lot of players are frustrated with how it happened,” relief pitcher Kevin Ginkel added. “People have stuff going on off the field that we have to push through, and I think it’s important for us to rely on each other.”

No matter how, when, or if Marte rejoins the Diamondbacks, they need him nonetheless. Baseball knows the danger of this team’s core when it clicks. So much so that just three years ago they rode 84 wins to the World Series.

Marte remains under contract through 2031. Arizona offered the extension because they believed he could be the face of the franchise throughout a decade. But with how everything’s gone, who knows if Marte can return and lead this team into the playoffs, or if he’s actually played his final game as a Diamondback.

This article first appeared on The Lead and was syndicated with permission.

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