The Royals have reached the point in their climb where marginal gains are no longer enough, and the search for an impact bat has turned their attention toward one of the most consistent players in the National League. Ketel Marte has surfaced as a possible trade target as Kansas City looks for an upgrade in the middle of the lineup. The cost will be high, but Marte represents the kind of bold swing the front office has hinted at as they try to turn a fringe contender into a serious threat in the American League.
Marte is a three-time All-Star second baseman coming off the best two-year run of his career. He finished third in MVP voting in 2024 with a line of .292/.372/.560 and a career-high 36 home runs. He didn’t show much regression this year, nearly matching those numbers with a line of .283/.376/.517 with 28 home runs, winning his second Silver Slugger Award. He has 10.9 fWAR over the last two years, ninth-most among position players.
His offensive numbers are not a product of the thin, dry air of Arizona either. He hit .314/.401/.581 with 16 home runs on the road, and was the third-best road hitter in baseball. His power numbers have occasionally taken a season off – he hit just 12 home runs in 2022. But he has put up an OPS+ of 100 or better in seven of the last eight seasons, the only exception being the shortened 2020 season.
He is a switch-hitter who didn’t have much of a platoon split last year, although in the past, he has hit lefties slightly better. Marte brings a very high contact approach, striking out just 14.9 percent of the time last season. He has below-average speed and won’t swipe more than a handful of bases per year. He was a Gold Glove finalist at second base in 2024, but was average defensively in 2025.
So why is such a valuable player available for trade? Marte just signed a six-year, $116.5 million contract extension in April, so it’s a bit curious that the Diamondbacks would look to move him. Bob Nightengale of USA Today writes that the Diamondbacks could look to move him before he hits the ten-year mark in service time, which would allow him to block any trades.
The Diamondbacks will ask for a lot in return, but they are definitely motivated in moving him with $71 million remaining through 2030. If they don’t move him by mid-April, Marte will have 10-and-5 rights and a full no-trade provision.
Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen said it was “mostly unlikely” he would trade his All-Star second baseman, but that he would “listen to what people say.” At least seven teams have reportedly already inquired about the 32-year-old, and if he is available, he should have many suitors.
Marte’s deal is fairly backloaded. He would earn:
- $15 million in 2026
- $12 million in 2027
- $20 million in 2028
- $22 million in 2029
- $22 million in 2030
He also has a $11.5 million player option in 2031, when he will be 37 years old. That’s a significant amount of money owed to a player in his 30s. There is an adage that second basemen tend not to age well, although that seems more apocryphal than data-borne. There was also a report that some of Marte’s teammates were not thrilled with him taking time off so much, including when he missed three games to deal with a home burglary.
Still, Marte has been one of the best hitters in baseball the last two seasons, and his salary should not be prohibitive for even a team like the Royals. The Diamondbacks need an outfielder, which the Royals do not have to offer, and they also need starting pitching, an area where the Royals have a surplus. Hazen would likely ask for a player like Cole Ragans to start trade discussions, but the Royals should shoot that down pretty quickly. Kris Bubic could have some value to the Diamondbacks, who are likely to want to try to compete during the prime years of Geraldo Perdomo and Corbin Carroll. But his value is limited since he has just one year left before free agency and is coming injury.
So once again, the best trading chip for the Royals is Noah Cameron. He may not have the upside other teams are looking for, but he has six years of control left and was impressive in his debut season. The Royals would almost certainly have to part with another major piece, someone like Carter Jensen, who is MLB-ready. The Diamondbacks already have a young catcher in Gabriel Moreno, who has been solid and is just 25 years old. Perhaps Jensen could transition to outfield, or maybe a third team gets involved to get Jensen in exchange for the outfielder the Diamondbacks need. Finally, the Royals would need to add a third piece, likely a very young, high-volatility player with great upside but high bust potential, a player like shortstop Yandel Ricardo.
Is that enough to outbid other teams? I am skeptical. Another team that can address Arizona’s outfield needs directly seems more likely. Additionally, I’m wary of adding such a large contract for a player that just turned 32. Marte’s value is at its maximum peak right now.
Ultimately, I don’t think this deal makes sense for the Royals. Acquiring Marte would be a huge swing for the fences, but it doesn’t quite fit the modus operandi of a team that stresses building a sustainable winner. The Royals could certainly use a bat like his in the lineup, but until they have more asset depth to deal from, they will likely have to shop in more of a bargain aisle when it comes to trades.
