The setback intensified after Bo Bichette came off the board, leaving the Red Sox without their two primary targets. As roster flexibility becomes increasingly important, the organization appears willing to explore more aggressive trade scenarios to address a clear infield need.

As Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports, Boston could pivot back to top star infielder Ketel Marte, despite the Arizona Diamondbacks recently signaling he was off the market. “The Red Sox could entice Arizona with a bigger trade package,” McCaffrey wrote, noting that Arizona covets Jarren Duran and young pitching, and that Boston now has more flexibility to deal a starter.

Why Ketel Marte still makes sense for Boston

While Arizona paused trade talks, Marte was never labeled untouchable. The Diamondbacks simply were not satisfied with earlier offers. Boston, however, may now be positioned to revisit discussions with a stronger proposal, potentially addressing its infield vacancy while easing an outfield logjam.

Contract control adds long-term appeal

Marte remains under contract through 2032, giving the Red Sox long-term stability at a premium position. Though he holds a player option after the 2031 season, his age at that point makes it unlikely he would test free agency, further increasing his appeal as a durable, cost-controlled solution.

According to information shared by Alex D’Agostino on his X account, the Diamondbacks have signed RHP Taylor Clarke to a one-year contract. Clarke most recently pitched in the league for the Kansas City Royals.

Clarke’s arrival in Arizona comes on the heels of the recent Nolan Arenado trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, as well as the addition of Judge’s former Yankees teammate, Jonathan Loaisiga. The D-Backs are clearly not looking to be mere spectators next season.

Clarke’s numbers from last season with the Royals

During his 2025 campaign with the Kansas City Royals, Taylor Clarke produced a bit of a mixed bag in the bullpen. While he managed to keep runners off the bases with a sharp 0.85 WHIP and struck out 44 batters, his 3.25 ERA and lone save across 51 appearances were considered somewhat underwhelming for high-leverage situations.

Despite these shaky flashes, his efficiency was enough to earn him a new one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the upcoming season. Can he show his full potential in this new stint with Arizona?

A new hope led by Marte and Arenado

The Arizona Diamondbacks are heading into the 2026 season with massive expectations, fueled by a high-powered core led by Ketel Marte and the veteran arrival of Nolan Arenado.

Fans are dreaming of a deep postseason run as Marte continues to perform at an MVP level, now perfectly complemented by Arenado’s elite gold-glove defense and consistent power at the plate.

With this dynamic duo anchoring the lineup, the D-backs believe they finally have the leadership and star power necessary to dominate the NL West and compete for a World Series title.

Sharing a division with teams of the caliber of the Dodgers, Giants, or Padres could imply that the D-Backs are starting from behind. That said, which positions do they consider reinforcing to be competitive in the 2026 MLB season?

During a recent conversation with the media, reported by Alex Weiner on his X account, Diamondbacks General Manager Mike Hazen was clear on the matter: “Still in the process of trying to add to our pitching staff. Bullpen, starting, whether it’s depth, whether it’s jumping into the rotation is still the main area of focus.”

In addition, the GM did not rule out the possibility of adding a couple of bats, possibly through platoons. It’s clear that Arizona has a lot of work ahead if its goal is to make a big impact next season.

Helping Marte make a big impact

With the Arizona Diamondbacks officially taking Ketel Marte off the trade block, General Manager Mike Hazen is now focused on surrounding his All-Star second baseman with elite talent to spark a 2026 resurgence.

To maximize Marte’s impact, Arizona may be looking to bolster its power depth by targeting a right-handed hitting first baseman, such as Rhys Hoskins or potentially a high-upside veteran like Cody Bellinger, to balance a lineup that struggled with consistency last year.

By pairing Marte with another premier run-producer and stabilizing a rotation that recently reunited with Merrill Kelly, the Diamondbacks aim to reclaim their status as a legitimate threat in the NL West.

Marte’s impressive stats from last season

Ketel Marte put up impressive numbers in 2025, finishing the year with a .283 batting average and providing elite power from the second base position with 28 home runs. His offensive consistency was highlighted by an .893 OPS and 72 RBIs, earning him his third All-Star selection and a second consecutive Silver Slugger Award.

It took a while, but Arizona has made up its mind. After listening to offers left to right around MLB, the D-backs have decided Marte is staying put. Instead of trading him away, the latest report in the league indicates Marte isn’t leaving Phoenix any time soon.

“The Arizona Diamondbacks ended weeks of speculation about the status of All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte on Friday, determining they will not trade him, a person with the team said,” as reported by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Maria Torres.

Why did Arizona even consider trading Marte?

Talents like Marte don’t come around often in MLB. His accolades include three All-Star selections, the 2023 NLCS MVP Award, and the 2024 Silver Slugger Award. At first glance, there seemed to be no reason why Arizona would ever pick up the phone on trade calls for Marte.

The D-backs didn’t shop him out of fear of losing him for nothing in free agency, either. Marte is signed through the 2031 season, so that is the least of Arizona’s concerns. Instead, the main factor behind the trade rumors reportedly stemmed from clubhouse issues. Based on the Diamondbacks’ final decision, it appears those concerns were greatly exaggerated—or that Arizona believes it can work past them.

Now or never scenario for D-backs

Though moving on from Marte didn’t seem wise for Arizona, exploring the market made a lot of sense. Once the 2026 MLB season gets underway, Marte will earn 10-and-5 rights, meaning he can veto any proposed trade.

Therefore, this offseason was the last chance the Diamondbacks could deal the star infielder with almost complete freedom—aside from his five-team no-trade list.

Arizona did its due diligence, tested the waters, and ultimately decided it was best to keep Marte around. Retaining Marte is also a sign Arizona is staying away from Alex Bregman, paving the way for a return to the Boston Red Sox with their final decision.

What is a 10-and-5 player in MLB?

As stated by MLB.com’s glossary, players who have accrued 10 years of Major League service time and spent the past five consecutive years with the same team are awarded 10-and-5 rights. Under these rights, they have the final say on any proposed trade. Having entered the league in 2015 and been with the D-backs since 2017, Marte will fulfill both criteria early in 2026.

Looking ahead to the next season, the Diamondbacks face significant uncertainty surrounding one of their star players. Marte, a critical component of the team’s lineup, could be on the move as reports indicate that five teams are expressing interest in the seasoned 32-year-old second baseman.

The Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Rays, and Detroit Tigers are the franchises reportedly eyeing Marte. According to Diamondbacks insider John Gambadoro, negotiations remain fluid, and the potential suitors are currently in a holding pattern.

“There remains significant interest from five teams in trading for Ketel Marte, with a few others continuing to make inquiries. So, there’s been no change there,” Gambadoro updated on his X account regarding Marte’s status and his prospects for 2026.

How close are these five teams to signing Marte?

As anticipation mounts over Marte’s destination, the five interested teams reportedly vary in their levels of engagement. Notably, the Mariners appear to be the frontrunners, seeking to bolster their lineup by pairing Marte with Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez.

Here’s a breakdown of the situation with the other four teams:

• Red Sox: Reports suggest that Boston is keen on securing a star for the second base position, with Marte being a prime target. However, they’re weighing the cost, as the Diamondbacks are expected to demand pitching prospects in return.
• Reds: Cincinnati was considered the leading candidate during the Winter Meetings. They purportedly proposed a trade package featuring Nick Lodolo or Chase Burns.
• Rays: Committed to making a significant impact next season, Tampa Bay reportedly tabled a $100 million contract offer, complete with a signing bonus.
• Tigers: Although linked to Marte, Detroit has yet to present a concrete proposal.

It’s also known that the New York Yankees are not among the teams Marte is considering. As the situation unfolds, the question of where Marte will play next season remains shrouded in uncertainty.

“We’re very likely to put an end to this shortly,” Hazen said on Tuesday, according to MLB.com. While the timeline is not precise, Hazen emphasized that the D-backs need to concentrate on other roster needs.

“I haven’t figured that out yet,” Hazen said of the exact timeline. “But this isn’t going to continue to linger. We need to focus our offseason. Again, my gut this whole time was that [a trade of Marte] wasn’t going to happen, and I think it seems likely that that’s the case and we want to focus on other things we need to do.”

Arizona still working to improve pitching staff

The Diamondbacks have already made moves to bolster their pitching rotation. On the first day of the Winter Meetings, right-hander Michael Soroka was signed to a one-year, $7.5 million deal with performance bonuses that can raise the total to $9.5 million. Shortly after, Merrill Kelly returned to Arizona on a two-year, $40 million contract.

Despite these additions, Hazen noted that work is not finished. Arizona aims to strengthen the bullpen, particularly with co-closers A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez unavailable for the early months due to recovery from second Tommy John surgeries.

Offensive reinforcements could influence Marte’s future

The Diamondbacks are also targeting improvements to their offense, specifically looking for a right-handed-hitting first baseman or designated hitter. Wrapping up the Marte trade talks would help provide direction for these moves.

“We’re going to need to start focusing on our position-player group at some point a little more specifically,” Hazen said. “That’s the other reason to finalize what we’re doing with other players, so we have a little more direction on what we can do and what it might look like.”