D-Backs won't trade Marte this offseason
Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen confirmed Friday that he won't move All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte this offseason.
"It never ended up getting that close," Hazen said, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. "Just sort of reaffirming what I've been saying the entire offseason, like my expectation was this wasn't going to happen. I felt like I had to do my job just to listen to what people had to say. He's a superstar player for us, and has been for a long time, and is going to continue to be."
Hazen said he talked to Marte after telling other teams the D-Backs were no longer interested in dealing the 32-year-old. The GM added he will meet with the player when spring training begins.
"He's a pro," Hazen said. "He's going to be a top-10 MVP-performing player in the league next year, and it'll be fine."
Bringing in pitching help and potentially making room in the payroll for free agent Alex Bregman were the reasons Arizona explored a Marte trade, according to Ken Rosenthal and Maria Torres of The Athletic.
The Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays reportedly showed interest in Marte.
The 2024 NL MVP finalist is signed through the 2030 season after inking an extension in April. He's still owed $91 million and has a $11.5-million player option for 2031.
Marte has hit 168 homers with 587 RBIs and an .851 OPS over 1,054 games with Arizona since 2017.