Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Diamondbacks lose out on trading their best asset in All-Star Ketel Marte

By Zachary Cariola | Last updated Jan 9, 2026 1:34 PM ET

Following weeks of speculation that the Arizona Diamondbacks would trade three-time All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports that Marte is now likely to remain in Arizona.

When asked by MLB.com about Marte, Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said, “We’re very likely to put an end to this shortly.” Teams like the Boston Red Sox and even Marte’s former team, the Seattle Mariners, showed the most interest in acquiring him, but didn't put together a suitable package that the Diamondbacks liked.

It will now be harder for the Diamondbacks to try to trade Marte moving forward, as this will be his 10th consecutive season with Arizona, while also having 10+ years of service time in the majors. This means Marte will obtain 10-5 rights (10 years of service time and five consecutive years with one team) and be able to veto a trade to any team. With the Diamondbacks likely to take a further step back in 2026 and rumors surrounding him taking days off and causing drama in the locker room, it could compel Marte to waive his no-trade rights to play for a winner. However, retaining Marte could be a blessing in disguise for the Diamondbacks, as they have a decent enough roster to make a run for the playoffs in 2026.

The Diamondbacks could end up benefiting from keeping All-Star Ketel Marte

At 32 years old, Marte is still in the prime of his career and is coming off another dominant season in which he won his second Silver Slugger award, batted .283 with an OPS of .893, hit 28 home runs, and finished 22nd in the MVP voting. Marte is signed to a team-friendly deal worth $92 million over five years, and has a player option worth $11.5 million for 2031.

Keeping Marte could end up working out for the Diamondbacks, as they still have a competitive roster with outfielder Corbin Carroll, catcher Gaberial Moreno, and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo returning to fill out their lineup. The Diamondbacks will also likely be getting their ace Corbin Burnes back by the All-Star break after he had to have Tommy John surgery last season, adding depth to a rotation that has a handful of quality arms in it.

Having a decent roster and Marte back, the Diamondbacks, once Burnes returns, could be competitive for a Wild Card spot, or even give the Los Angeles Dodgers a run for the National League West, as it will be a tall task for them to threepeat.

With Marte now off the trade block, the St. Louis Cardinals now have a corner on the second base market, with Brendan Donovan becoming the best option available.

Zachary Cariola

My name is Zachary Cariola and I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. My areas of expertise are MLB, NBA, and NFL. When I’m not writing, I love spending time with my family and learning history.

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