Although Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said in late December that he never thought a trade was particularly likely, Marte lingered as a possibility for teams seeking infield help this offseason. That option is no longer in play.
Here’s a look at the potential implications of Marte remaining with the D-backs.
What it means for the D-backs
Marte could be staying in Phoenix for the long haul. The second baseman, who signed a $116.5 million extension with the D-backs last April that runs through 2031, will gain full no-trade rights in April as a 10-and-5 player, restricting Arizona’s ability to move him in the future if circumstances change.
With Marte staying put, the D-backs are also effectively closing the book on pursuing premium free-agent infield options — Alex Bregman in particular — a path that had been contingent on a Marte trade.
Arizona fielded offers for Marte primarily because it entered the offseason with limited payroll space while needing to address a pitching staff ravaged by injuries and departures. Although the team signed Michael Soroka and brought back Merrill Kelly, it still finds itself short on pitching — and with even less financial flexibility than at the start of the offseason. That said, the D-backs’ willingness to consider Bregman suggests there could still be room in the budget for another pitching addition.
What it means for the top free-agent infielders
As noted above, the D-backs had emerged as a suitor for Bregman amid their discussions about a Marte trade. In fact, up until recently, Arizona appeared to be one of the biggest threats to a Bregman reunion with the Red Sox, along with Toronto, according to reporting from MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
Adding another wrinkle, Marte was one of the infield options the Red Sox were considering as a fallback for Bregman. Boston is also talking to free agent Bo Bichette and exploring other trade options (including the Astros’ Isaac Paredes), though re-signing Bregman is believed to be their priority.
What it means for other teams that were pursuing Marte
The Tigers always seemed like a longshot for Marte, considering they have second baseman Gleyber Torres signed for $22.025 million this season after he accepted Detroit’s qualifying offer. The Tigers remain a potential landing spot for Bregman, though Feinsand reports that they haven’t shown any indication that they would be willing to make the type of offer they did last year (six years, $171.5 million).
What it means for other trade candidates
From a trade perspective, the biggest beneficiary of the D-backs’ decision to pull Marte off the market could be the Cardinals, with Donovan — St. Louis’ most valuable trade chip — perhaps generating even more interest.
Other second basemen have been circulating in the rumor mill as well, including the Cubs’ Nico Hoerner and the Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr., both of whom are pending free agents. But neither Hoerner nor Chisholm is likely to be dealt unless their teams make another significant infield addition first.
