According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, nothing is “hot” yet on the Marte front, but trade talks are ongoing at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla. Recent reporting has connected the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Mariners, Tigers, Pirates and Rays to the 32-year-old.
It’s easy to see why there would be a lot of interest in Marte, who led primary second basemen with 15.3 WAR (per FanGraphs) while tying for ninth among qualifiers (regardless of position) with a 140 wRC+ over the past three seasons.
Marte: 15.3 fWAR, 140 wRC+ (age 29-31 seasons)
Further adding to Marte’s appeal is his contract, which is more modest than the deals the aforementioned stars are expected to command on the open market. He signed a seven-year $116.5 million extension with Arizona last April. The deal includes an opt-out after Marte’s age-36 campaign in 2030.
So why would the D-backs consider moving such a valuable piece? As MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert explained in mid-November, Arizona has major pitching needs — and not a lot of room in the budget to solve them. The club reached a one-year, $7.5 million deal with oft-injured righty Michael Soroka on Monday (per sources), but it still has a lot of work to do to strengthen a staff that wasn’t especially strong in 2025 and has been depleted by departures and injuries.
Dealing away Marte wouldn’t be easy, but interest in him could be strong enough to force the D-backs’ hand, especially if free agency breaks a certain way.
For instance, the Blue Jays might be more willing to make an enticing offer for Marte if Bichette signs elsewhere and their pursuit of Tucker doesn’t pan out. Ditto for the Red Sox, who have been linked to a variety of free-agent bats, from Bregman to Alonso to Schwarber. Meanwhile, his affordable deal broadens the range of potential suitors, putting small-market teams such as the Pirates and Rays in the mix as well.
