Ketel Marte could be the perfect trade target if Phillies are willing to pay massive price

If the Phillies want a big bat this offseason, Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte may be one of the better fits out there. That’s if the Phillies are willing to pay a massive price.

The Diamondbacks are “actively listening” on Marte, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. The Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays are among teams that have “checked in,” according to Morosi. Marte has a five team limited no-trade list, and the Phillies are apparently not on it.

The switch-hitting Marte is one of the more interesting trade candidates. Marte is the best second baseman in baseball. He finished top three in MVP voting in 2024. He was been worth at least four FanGraphs wins above replacement in each of the last three seasons. He’s also hit at least 25 home runs in each of the last three years. No doubt he would represent a huge upgrade for a Phillies lineup that could really use another middle-of-the-order bat. Trading for Marte would likely mean the Phillies would have to deal either Bryson Stott or Alec Bohm.

The Diamondbacks have a decision to make on Marte. His 10-5 rights (10 years in the big leagues, five consecutive years with one club) kick in this April. That means his five-team no-trade list becomes a full no-trade clause. Trading a player with a no-trade clause is difficult, but not impossible. Brandon Nimmo just waived his full no-trade clause with the New York Mets to go to the Texas Rangers.

Any trade for Marte will require at least one young, controllable starting pitcher. That’s why it is pointless to mock up a Phillies trade for Marte that doesn’t include Andrew Painter.

The D-Backs have lots of young position players, but not nearly enough pitching. Painter fits the mold as a near major-league ready starting pitcher with ace upside who could fill one of two vacancies the Diamondbacks currently have in their starting rotation.

Arizona’s pitching coach, Brian Kaplan, was previously the Phillies’ assistant pitching coach and director of pitching development from 2022 to 2024. Kaplan oversaw Painter’s remarkably fast rise in the Phillies system. The two have known each other since Painter was a freshman in high school. It would be silly for the D-Backs to trade a player of Marte’s caliber to the Phillies without Painter being included in the deal, knowing Arizona’s needs and the connection between Kaplan and Painter.

But the Phillies for years have made Painter untouchable in trade talks. They probably could have landed Garrett Crochet at the 2024 trade deadline if they were willing to include Painter. Coming off a down season in Triple-A, it’s unclear if the Phillies’ stance on trading Painter has changed.

But that’s the price the Phillies would probably have to pay in order to acquire a high-end bat via trade. For Marte, it could be worth it.

There are some red flags for interested teams to consider. He does have an injury history and would require some load management during the regular season. The 32-year-old Marte is signed to a deal worth just under $20 million per year through 2030, with an $11.5 million player option for 2021.

Marte’s requests for days off has frustrated some of his teammates, according to reporting earlier this year from Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Marte missed three games after the All-Star break following a burglary at this home in Scottsdale during the All-Star Game. He flew to the Dominican Republic after playing in the All-Star Game in Atlanta and reportedly told team officials that he would be back to begin the second half. Marte later apologized for missing those games.

The Phillies haven’t shied away from trading very good prospects in recent years. The Mick Abel and Eduardo Tait for Jhoan Duran deal has been the most significant prospect package Dave Dombrowski has traded away in his time with the Phillies, but the Phillies have mostly drawn a line in terms of what they are willing to give up in trades. To acquire a player like Marte, it would require the Phillies to get uncomfortable.