MLB Rumors: Ketel Marte Trade Drama Nearing Breaking Point
GM Mike Hazen told MLB.com the team is “very likely to put an end to” Marte talks soon because Arizona needs to focus its offseason plan, and he strongly hinted that means keeping Marte rather than moving him.
At the same time, Marte took his own little swipe at the noise, posting “Not Good teammate” on Instagram in a clear response to the lingering teammate narrative that followed him during the 2025 season.
Mike Hazen hints the Diamondbacks will keep Marte
Hazen’s message has been pretty consistent for months: trading a star hitter is “mostly unlikely,” and now he is basically saying the phone lines will not stay open forever. The Diamondbacks have listened because controllable starting pitching is hard to find, but Hazen admitted talks have not come close to Arizona’s asking price.
That can be read as leverage, sure, but it also matches the reality that the Diamondbacks are not rebuilding and are not under financial pressure to dump Marte.
Ketel Marte posted an Instagram story mocking rumors that have circulated that say he’s not a good teammate pic.twitter.com/92Qc0F9aI1
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) December 30, 2025
This is also a timing thing. Marte is nearing the point where he will soon gain full no trade protection through 10 and 5 rights early in the 2026 season, which means if Arizona actually wants flexibility, the decision window is right now.
If Hazen is leaning toward keeping him, then shutting down trade chatter quickly lets the front office move on to the rest of the roster instead of waiting around for offers that never reach the bar.
Marte trade rumors collide with “bad teammate” talk and roster needs
The Marte drama has not only been about baseball. The “bad teammate” storyline has floated around since late summer, and Marte’s Instagram post felt like him telling everyone to relax.
Hazen previously defended him publicly, calling Marte a superstar you win with and pointing out Arizona already reached the World Series with him as a core piece. That matters because the Diamondbacks have to consider clubhouse fit, but they also cannot pretend losing an elite switch hitting second baseman makes the lineup better.
#DBacks GM Mike Hazen on Ketel Marte trade talks:
— MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) December 30, 2025
“This isn’t going to continue to linger…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.” pic.twitter.com/CMRhODJZ3P
If Arizona keeps Marte, the focus shifts to solving other problems. The bullpen still looks like a pressing area, and the Diamondbacks also have decisions to make with their position player mix and everyday roles. There has even been chatter about a scenario where Arizona keeps Marte and makes a surprise push for Alex Bregman, which would reshape the infield without sacrificing the bat that already anchors it.
Either way, Hazen is signaling that the Marte question is about to get answered so the rest of the offseason can finally start moving.
Photo Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
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