Starters the D-Backs Could Target in a Ketel Marte Trade

Much has been written over the past couple of months about Arizona Diamondbacks superstar second baseman Ketel Marte potentially being traded. He’s arguably the number one player truly available to trade for in baseball. There’s interest from many teams, and Arizona could get a massive haul in return for one of the best contracts in MLB.

Marte has $102.5 million owed to him over the next six years, though roughly $40 million of it is deferred. That drops his AAV for luxury tax purposes down to just over $14 million. That’s a steal for a player of his caliber, considering the contract that a free agent like Alex Bregman is sure to get (and what Pete Alonso already got).

Marte is one of the best players in MLB, a power switch-hitter with low strikeout rates, great contact ability, and a rare clutch factor. He would catapult many teams’ offenses into the upper echelon, as he’s done for Arizona.

Even with the reported clubhouse issues from last season, what team and its fanbase wouldn’t be excited about adding a player who has hit .283/.368/.519 with an OPS of .887 over the last three years?

Marte has been an All-Star each of the last two years, with a 141 OPS+, 77 doubles, 11 triples, 89 homers, and 249 RBI the last three. His 16.0 bWAR averages out to more than 5.0 per season, and he’s only just entering his age-32 campaign. His skill set should age gracefully, even with the numerous leg injuries he’s had over the years.

According to The Arizona Republic‘s Nick Piecoro, the Diamondbacks have rightly set an extremely high price for six years of cheap control over a superstar player. They’re seeking “an established, well-regarded starting pitcher plus multiple other pieces.”

Piecoro dove deeper in a later article, exploring a couple of trade offers that Arizona had received, such as one including the Rays’ Ryan Pepiot and another in which a team offered a “high-profile starting pitcher” with even more expected to be included.

Clearly, the D-backs are on the hunt for an ace or a pitcher that has a high chance of becoming an ace. That’s the number one thing missing from their roster aside from a closer. An ace could launch them right back into the thick of playoff contention.

Aces (or Potential Aces) the D-backs Could Target

Cincinnati Reds – Hunter Greene

The Reds have an acute need for a power bat and instant offense. They’ve been connected to Marte for much of the offseason. Plus, they have a controllable ace on a cheaper contract for the next four years that they could make the centerpiece of a trade offer.

While Greene does have some warts, namely durability, as he’s yet to have a fully healthy season, he would instantly become Arizona’s ace and their best pitcher by far. His 99.5 mph average fastball velocity does portend concern for a potential future elbow injury, but when he’s on, he’s unhittable. That’s why he has an ERA of 2.76 over his last two years and 258 innings.

Greene, plus a couple of other pieces, could get it done, and Arizona would have a long-term ace to pair with Corbin Burnes when he comes back.

Toronto Blue Jays – Trey Yesavage

Yesavage would likely be the pitcher Arizona asks for in return from Toronto instead of an aging José Berríos or an expensive short-term vet.

While the Blue Jays would likely balk at this, Yesavage could be the young, controllable ace that Arizona is yearning to get in return. The plus for the Blue Jays is that they have so many starters right now that they would be able to offset the loss of Yesavage rather easily.

Though replacing a record-setting rookie pitcher is tough to do, the Jays have the arms to attempt it. It likely wouldn’t take much more than Yesavage and his six years of control to acquire Marte.

Plus, Marte would fit the Blue Jays’ lineup quite well, as he hits from both sides of the plate and could take over second base. He also wouldn’t be required to be the star, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. already holds that distinction. He could just be his regular self without any extra pressure.

It’s a minor risk for Arizona, as Yesavage isn’t a sure bet to be an ace, but he certainly looks to have the potential to be one. His playoff ERA of 3.58 and 39 strikeouts in 27.2 innings, plus his 14 innings in the regular season with a 3.21 ERA, suggest as much.

Miami Marlins – Edward Cabrera

Cabrera would bring three seasons of control to Arizona, and additional pieces from a young Marlins squad could help set up the future in the desert.

Meanwhile, Miami would get the superstar player that it could never afford in free agency to build around for the long term. Plus, Marte would likely sell a lot of jerseys and tickets as the Fish try to re-engage frustrated fans.

Miami likely would be intrigued by this and could engage deeper, despite not having been connected to Marte thus far. The Marlins should be willing to spend some money this offseason, and they could easily fit Marte’s contract into their payroll without hurting their long-term spreadsheet.

Cabrera does have some injury risk, but then again, what starting pitcher doesn’t? He also brings elite off-speed and breaking pitches to the table. He just finished a season with a 3.53 ERA over 137.2 innings with 150 strikeouts. His advanced stats matched up with the surface-level performance, and he could just be taking off, as he’s only entering his age-28 season.

Seattle Mariners – Logan Gilbert

It’s known that the Mariners like Marte. After all, they were his original team. He also fits their roster quite well and could be the last piece that pushes Seattle over the top and into the World Series. However, he won’t come cheap.

That’s where a proven ace like Gilbert comes in. With Bryan Woo and George Kirby, Seattle can afford to lose Gilbert. Will their rotation be as elite as it was without him? No, but the improvement to their offense will offset what they lose in the rotation.

Gilbert is the exact kind of ace that Arizona would wish to get. He’s durable, dependable, and comes with two years of control. He’s able to pitch deep into games, rack up innings, and post a low-3.00s ERA with a high strikeout rate.

While it would cost Seattle a lot, this is one trade that could truly help both clubs accomplish what they wanted to get done this offseason.

Boston Red Sox – Payton Tolle

While Tolle isn’t an established ace, he has all the makings of one. He sprinted through Boston’s minor league system with a durable frame and a high-profile fastball that make it easy to see the potential in his arm.

This trade would involve a high cost for the Red Sox to pay, since it would require plenty more in addition to Tolle. However, they have perhaps more starting depth than any other team in baseball. They could afford to lose one promising young arm and still have a high-potential/high-quality rotation.

Tolle would give the D-backs at least six years of control at cost-advantaged rates. Should he reach his potential, he could be their co-ace with Burnes for the next half-decade. Plus, Arizona could use a live-arm left-hander in their rotation, something this team has not had since Randy Johnson.

Marte, meanwhile, could be the long-term answer at second and the big bat that Boston has been searching for this offseason.

Tampa Bay Rays – Brody Hopkins

Hopkins may not have debuted yet and isn’t likely to do so until much later in the upcoming season, but it’s hard not to see a frontline pitcher in him. Hopkins has elite strikeout ability while limiting walks enough to suggest a bright future. He pitched to a 2.72 ERA in 2025 over 116 innings at Double-A in 2025.

Hopkins is only entering his age-24 season, and since he didn’t start pitching until late in college, there’s a lot of mileage left on his fresh arm. Overall, Hopkins would give the Diamondbacks a future ace-caliber pitcher that wouldn’t force them to adjust their current rotation.

The Rays would get a superstar player for several years that they couldn’t afford any other way. They also shouldn’t have much trouble developing another promising pitching prospect, as they’ve proven to be able to do repeatedly.

The Arizona Diamondbacks certainly have gotten a ton of interest in Ketel Marte, and it makes all the sense in the world as to why. Whether they get the offer they like remains to be seen, as does whether they sign Bregman. However, if they want to add an ace to their rotation, trading Marte might be the only possible pathway they can take.