During the offseason, the Arizona Diamondbacks explored trade options involving their standout second baseman, Ketel Marte, as they sought to improve their pitching affordably. Although teams including the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays expressed interest, no agreement was reached, and Arizona ultimately chose to retain Marte. The negotiations, particularly with Boston, revealed a disagreement over the trade package’s components, preventing a deal from materializing.
Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, citing multiple league sources, revealed that
“the Sox were open to dealing a package headlined by Franklin Arias and either Payton Tolle or Connelly Early in exchange for Marte,”
but
“when Arizona sought a package led by Marcelo Mayer and one of the pitchers, the Sox declined.”
The Red Sox instead turned their attention to acquiring first baseman Willson Contreras. With no bids meeting their expectations, the Diamondbacks opted to keep Marte, whose salary of $15.641 million in 2026 and upcoming 10-and-5 rights in April make trading him increasingly complex.
Arizona’s Desire for Marcelo Mayer Highlighted in Trade Talks
The timing of the Marte trade discussions was significant. With former Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman a free agent and Nolan Arenado still with the Cardinals, Arizona shifted its focus to Arenado after ending negotiations for Marte. According to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro, the Diamondbacks aimed to obtain a return commensurate with Marte’s status as a top-tier player, a two-time National League All-Star second baseman who leads the position since 2023 in weighted runs created plus (wRC+) and wins above replacement (fWAR).
Franklin Arias, regarded by MLB.com as Boston’s top prospect, was considered as part of the potential deal, but the 19-year-old infielder had mainly played in High-A ball, which did not satisfy Arizona’s need for major-league ready talent. They pressed for Marcelo Mayer, who is part of Boston’s “Big 3” prospects and debuted in the majors during the season, filling in for Bregman before sustaining an injury. Mayer was the fourth overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, selected just before Arizona’s Jordan Lawlar.
Despite a challenging start to his big-league career—hitting .228/.272/.402 with a 30% strikeout rate over 44 games—Mayer is highly regarded for his potential. A trade involving Marte and Mayer would have addressed Arizona’s need not only at second base but also at third base and added depth to their pitching rotation. The Diamondbacks had also sought Connelly Early at the trade deadline for rotation help but ultimately settled for a package including Kohl Drake, Mitch Bratt, and David Hagaman, as confirmed by WEEI’s Rob Bradford.
A successful trade would have allowed Jordan Lawlar to become a regular second baseman, while also providing him opportunities in the outfield in 2026, especially with the recent departure of Blaze Alexander creating a spot in the lineup.
Arizona’s Offseason Moves After Prioritizing Marte
Following the decision to retain Marte, Arizona’s offseason has been relatively subdued. The organization added corner infielders Nolan Arenado and Carlos Santana in an effort to stabilize defense, aiming to support a pitching staff that struggled in close games during the prior season. The Diamondbacks recorded a 21-28 record in one-run games in 2025, and winning just four more would have secured a postseason berth.
On the pitching front, Arizona focused on moderate improvements, committing $27.5 million in payroll to re-sign Merrill Kelly and bring in Michael Soroka, while opting for budget-conscious rotation upgrades. General Manager Mike Hazen’s choice to retain Marte reflects confidence in the player’s value, having signed him to multiple team-friendly contract extensions over the years.
The question remains whether holding onto Marte was the optimal decision, particularly if pitching challenges persist in 2026. The balance between maintaining elite position talent and addressing pitching needs continues to shape Arizona’s strategic outlook.
Nothing is imminent on the Ketel Marte trade front, but this is going to end and soon. I do not see this dragging out much further. It's pretty simple- if the Dbacks get an acceptable trade offer worthy of moving a superstar player, which as of now they have not, then we will…
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) December 18, 2025
