Report: Blue Jays 'Intensifying Talks' On Ketel Marte, Inc. Massive Extension

November 14, 2026 ,
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Since the end of the season, rumors have begun circling around Arizona Diamondbacks' All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte. It's a continuation of the buzz that surrounded him last offseason as well as during the campaign as well. 

According to Latin American baseball insider Hector Gomez, the Toronto Blue Jays are "intensifying talks" to acquire Marte. He even says the conversations have included the Jays giving the slugging second sacker a new, rich, four-year extension to restructure his contract.

The extension, says Gomez, would be for four years and $135 million. 

Other insiders have denied that Marte is about to dealt, but the Jays being interested in him certainly makes some sense. Toronto's woeful offense was an embarrassment this past season. They finished dead last in baseball in home runs in and were second-last in the majors with a .691 OPS. Their .381 slugging percentage ranked 26th of the 30 MLB teams.  

Marte had a down year with 22 homers this past season, but he averaged about a .900 OPS and 30 homers per year over the previous three years. 

As for what it would cost in assets to acquire the 33-year-old, it might not be as much as you'd think, given his age and the massive amount of money left on his current contract (five years, $78 million). From this report, however, it sounds like Toronto would like to shave one year off that, but beef it up with an extra $50M++. 

Does it all make sense? Other reports certainly have had the Blue Jays interested. 

"The Jays, as they do with so many free agents and trade candidates, have checked in once again. Even if Arizona is holding a high asking price, if they're motivated to move on from the second baseman, the ask may have to drop, potentially after a lockout," wrote Mitch Bannon of The Athletic.

Meanwhile, yet another report—also from a Spanish-language insider—has a Jays rival in the AL East also in discussions with the Snakes on Marte. 

Mike Rodriguez says the Baltimore Orioles are "most interested" in acquiring the sometimes controversial second baseman.  

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