The Arizona Diamondbacks and Ketel Marte are once again in turmoil after the star second baseman was seen at a casino Friday night during his team’s win over the Cincinnati Reds. While manager Torey Lovullo stressed that Marte — recently transferred from the restricted list to the IL — did not break any rules, he did admit, “it’s not a choice I would make.”
Marte and the Diamondbacks front office have been at odds before, and while the circumstances around last week’s no-show in Boston remain unclear, it only serves to drum up more speculation about a potential breakup between franchise and cornerstone. Marte, in year two of a six-year, $116.5 million contract, would command significant interest from contenders across the league if he does end up on the trade market. Let’s dive into a few potential packages for the 32-year-old.
Royals trade package for Ketel Marte
The Royals are deeply invested in Vinnie Pasquantino, who has become something of a cult hero. So trading him for a player with so many off-field problems — even one as talented as Ketel Marte — could ruffle feathers. Marte is also 32, so shelf-life concerns begin to enter the equation. That said, five years of affordable control over one of the best infielders in baseball is a strong value proposition, as Pasquantino has had something of a down year (.706 OPS).
The Diamondbacks, conversely, really need a first baseman and would welcome Pasquantino’s buoyant energy, plus two years of cost control. David Shields is one of several teenage pitchers making waves in the Royals farm system; the 19-year-old southpaw flashes advanced control and strong secondaries, with an especially impressive curveball. If he can add more velocity and swing-and-miss to his profile, there’s front-end rotation potential.
Blake Mitchell has spent the entire season at High-A, with strong production (21 home runs and an .873 OPS). He also has a 159 strikeouts in 348 at-bats, so there’s concern about how effectively the bat can level up. The natural power and flashes of elite glovework behind the plate give him a solid path, though, and he’s blocked by Carter Jensen in Kansas City. Arizona can view him as a potential successor to Gabriel Moreno down the road.
Mariners trade package for Ketel Marte
The Mariners’ farm system is especially ripe, and that front office has teased its aggression in recent years. Seattle won’t move top arms Kade Anderson or Ryan Sloan, but Michael Arroyo — their top-ranked position prospect, No. 75 in FanSided’s Top 100 — is due for an imminent call-up. He has an .808 OPS since his promotion to Triple-A this season, and could compete to replace Marte at second base out of the gate next spring training. (He has also taken to the outfield in recent years, where the Diamondbacks also need help.)
With Ace Reese, Seattle’s 2026 first-round pick, the Diamondbacks can perhaps plant the seeds for Nolan Arenado’s eventual successor. Reese is 19 and will need several years of development at lower levels, but he exhibits plus power from the left-hand side. Mason Peters, a 22-year-old southpaw who posted a 1.43 ERA in 14 Single-A starts before a late promotion, is probably underrated in all the hype around Seattle’s developmental arms. He’s undersized and comes with durability concerns, but he spins a mean curveball.
For the Mariners, this season has been a disappointment. Even if Seattle sneaks into the postseason, this was not meant to be a team scrapping and clawing for a .500 record. Cal Raleigh figures to experience some positive regression next season, while their pitching staff remains a singular powerhouse. Throw Marte’s bat into the heart of the order with Dominic Canzone, Julio Rodríguez and (hopefully) Randy Arozarena, and the Mariners profile is as strong as any American League contender in 2027.
Phillies trade package for Ketel Marte
The Phillies’ farm system certainly lacks the depth of Seattle’s when it comes to MLB-ready players. Aidan Miller is the lone exception — an uber-talented infielder who would’ve debuted as soon as Opening Day this year were it not for a back injury that has gradually decimated his entire season. That injury adds a layer of uncertainty to Miller’s projection moving forward, but he’s certainly good enough to step into Marte’s shoes and start on the Diamondbacks’ infield next season, assuming health. Before the injury, Miller was a consensus top-25 prospect in the Majors, so this could turn into a huge steal for Arizona.
Bryan Rincon, a 22-year-old, is one of three shortstops ranked among the Phillies’ top five prospects at MLB Pipeline. After an extremely middling 2025 campaign in High-A, the Phillies bumped him up to Double-A this season and watched Rincon blossom, with 20 home runs and a .903 OPS to complement his elite glovework in the middle infield. On such a steep ascent, he could tease an MLB debut next season.
Wen-Hui Pan is a 23-year-old right-handed reliever with upper-90s heat and a devastating splitter. Keaton Anthony missed the start of the campaign with a broken foot, which he suffered in spring training, but the lefty first baseman has done nothing but hit in the Minors. He’s batting .271 with a .760 OPS in Triple-A this season, with a career .314 MiLB average. His advanced hit tool does not translate to advanced power, which complicates his outlook at first base, but that’s a position of need for Arizona. Anthony can compete for a roster spot in the spring.
As for the Phillies, Marte is a dream “replacement” for upcoming free agent Luis Arráez, should the need arise (pardon the pun). With Alec Bohm also hitting free agency, Bryce Harper would presumably move back to first base, with Bryson Stott sticking at third, where he has acquitted himself beautifully since the trade deadline. We’ve seen how an elite cleanup hitter can unlock Bryce Harper’s patience. Marte can provide similar protection, with far more slug than Arráez.
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