Mariners, Pirates Circling Ketel Marte
The list of clubs showing interest in Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte keeps growing. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that Seattle and Pittsburgh are among the teams exploring a deal for the three-time All-Star.
Heyman also connected the Red Sox, Rays, and Tigers to Marte, echoing USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, whose piece followed a report from last month about the Phillies and Blue Jays inquiring about Marte. Mid-November chatter from John Gambadoro of 98.7 Arizona Sports noted at least seven teams had already checked in on Marte’s availability, though he didn’t name any names. It’s possible that the seven teams Gambadoro referenced align with the current mix cited by multiple outlets.
With Jorge Polanco and Eugenio Suárez headed toward free agency, Seattle faces infield vacancies. Reuniting with either veteran could be an option, and there are several internal candidates poised to fill the spots. Still, a Marte trade would be particularly appealing. The 32-year-old has been among the most productive players at his position for years, finishing fourth in NL MVP voting in 2019 and third in 2024, while earning Silver Slugger honors in back-to-back seasons.
Marte’s numbers last season were .283/.376/.517 with more than 25 homers for the third consecutive year. He played 126 games due to injuries and absences but reached 550+ plate appearances for the fourth straight year. Apart from lingering hamstring issues in 2021, Marte has shown remarkable durability over nine seasons in Arizona.
A full-circle moment would be compelling if Seattle lands Marte. The club signed him as an international free agent in 2011, and he debuted with the Mariners in 2015, posting a 112 wRC+ in 57 games. He struggled in a larger role the next season and missed time with a thumb sprain and mononucleosis. Seattle traded Marte and Taijuan Walker to Arizona after the 2016 season in a blockbuster deal that brought back Jean Segura, Mitch Haniger, and Zac Curtis. Segura and Haniger enjoyed productive Mariners careers, though neither reached Marte’s elite levels in Arizona.
Seattle has already moved one key trade piece this offseason, sending Harry Ford to Washington for Jose A. Ferrer, but plenty of promising prospects remain to be included in a Marte deal. MLB.com’s midseason ranking placed Seattle’s farm system behind only Minnesota and the Dodgers, underscoring the depth available in a potential trade scenario.
Pittsburgh has also been active, acquiring Jhostynxon Garcia and a pitching prospect for Johan Oviedo, plus a few minor leaguers. Garcia joins an outfield mix that includes Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds, yet the Pirates could still benefit from further infield upgrades.
Last season, Pittsburgh ranked 23rd in OPS at second base and finished last or near the bottom in several offensive categories, including scoring. They’ve spent seven straight seasons in the bottom tier for runs, and they’ve been the lowest-scoring team three times in that span. While the Oviedo-for-Garcia move helps address some issues, a Marte deal would deliver a major offensive boost. MLB.com’s latest farm-system rankings had Pittsburgh at ninth, suggesting that a substantial prospect package would be required to pry Marte away from Arizona.
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images
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