Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen says roster adjustments are possible, with Ketel Marte trade back under consideration

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

The Arizona Diamondbacks are again weighing the possibility of trading Ketel Marte after concluding earlier trade talks did not produce a deal that met the club’s needs, according to general manager Mike Hazen. Hazen’s comments, made as the organization discussed its offseason approach during the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, come after the team posted consecutive playoff misses following a World Series run in 2023.

Hazen said the decision-making process is being driven by the team’s recent results and the shared group of players from that 2023 postseason core. He pointed to the Diamondbacks “fall[ing] short of the playoffs the last three years [with] the group that went to the World Series with,” and said, “I just think I need to be open to making adjustments to what the roster looks like.”

The renewed focus on Marte follows a sequence of events that has complicated trade planning. Last offseason, the Diamondbacks listened to offers for the veteran second baseman into January before choosing to keep him on the roster. At the time, that approach appeared likely to end additional trade conversations because Marte was set to reach 10-and-5 rights in April, a threshold that would require him to approve any future transaction.

Trade timing became more complex after Marte missed a game last August against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The absence led to a stint on the restricted list and then the injured list. When Marte returned from the injured list, the source reports that he apologized to his teammates and that Arizona moved on during the National League Wild Card race.

Now, with the off-season negotiations re-entering the picture, the Diamondbacks are expected to revisit Marte’s availability, though the club’s path to a deal may be more restrictive than last year. The source notes that because the unexcused absence was not Marte’s first, Arizona would likely have to “lower their asking price” compared with the prior offseason. It also highlights the impact of Marte’s 10-and-5 rights, emphasizing that his approval would be required for any transaction, potentially shrinking the market for acquiring him.

The organizational financial context is also part of the equation. With payroll “just north of $200 million last season,” the Diamondbacks have publicly stated that their figure is likely to go down in 2027. The source adds that the club has about $170 million already committed for next year, and that determining how a potential Marte trade could affect those projections will influence other offseason decisions.

Marte’s contract is described as relatively manageable for a player of his standing, with $87.5 million owed over the next five seasons, including $12 million next year and an additional $3 million deferred. Hazen said that clarifying “where that’s going to settle” in connection with a possible Marte trade would help shape much of the rest of Arizona’s offseason.

While the Marte discussion centers on whether the team will adjust its roster core, it is also tied to specific areas where Arizona is seeking upgrades. The source identifies bullpen reshaping as one priority after departures via free agency of Kevin Ginkel, Jonathan Loáisiga and Ryan Thompson, leaving a need to restock the middle innings relief group.

Pitching improvement is also presented as a key theme for the Diamondbacks’ offseason. Hazen said, “I think we’re going to need to upgrade the pitching; we’re always going to need to upgrade pitching,” and he linked the club’s shortcomings to changes needed at multiple points in games. He said the “middle part of our bullpen needs help,” while noting that the team “weren’t very good against right-handed pitching this year,” which he said cost the club during its season.

The Diamondbacks’ offseason plans, as described in the source, could include targeting improvements designed to address those right-handed matchups. The club could look for a left-handed-hitting corner infielder, alongside efforts aimed at overall performance against right-handed batters. In addition, despite having five veteran starters in its rotation, the organization also wants to add depth to its starting pitching, reflecting the broader need to shore up the pitching staff.

For Arizona, the immediate consequence of the GM Meetings discussions is that Marte remains an active consideration rather than a settled non-trade candidate. Any decision will depend on how the club gauges the trade market in light of the diminished leverage from prior season talks, Marte’s control associated with 10-and-5 rights, and how a deal could align with the Diamondbacks’ stated intention for payroll to decline for 2027.

As Hazen indicated, the Marte question is likely to come first because it affects the baseline for other roster building. From there, the Diamondbacks’ offseason priorities—bolstering the middle of the bullpen, targeting improved performance against right-handed pitching, and adding starting depth—could guide what Arizona does next if it chooses to make the kinds of adjustments Hazen described.

The source places these developments in the context of a club that has remained in contention late in the season but has not qualified for the postseason, despite win totals of 89, 80 and 86 after the 2023 World Series run. With the organization publicly preparing for a 2027 payroll reduction and currently holding the middle bullpen together after key free-agent departures, Arizona’s revisit of Marte’s trade availability signals the team is considering tangible changes to its roster construction going into the next season.