Cubs fans want a big move this offseason — and Ketel Marte might be the perfect answer. His versatility, contract control, and offensive profile could turn Chicago from playoff contender to World Series threat.
It’s remains the question of the offseason radiating through Wrigleyville.
The Cubs are clearly a step or two behind the true contenders in the National League—and they’re only losing ground as players like Kyle Tucker hit free agency.
The Ricketts family has never been known for spending recklessly, but investing big in another superstar wouldn’t be meaningless. It would be a statement that the North Siders are done waiting for “next year.”
Chicago has a solid core in place. Young, controllable talent. Arguably the best defensive roster in baseball. And a fan base hungry for a reason to believe this team can reach the World Series again.
Yes, the Cubs were one win away from the NLCS, but they’re still a few rungs below the Dodgers and Brewers at the top of the National League. That’s the only measuring stick that matters now.
So if not now, when? That is the question. This is the moment to make a bold move. And there may not be a better fit for the Cubs than Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Fit: Why Marte Makes Sense
Reports from baseball insiders suggest the Arizona Diamondbacks are motivated to move Marte in a trade this winter. Over the last three seasons, Marte has posted a combined 15.2 fWAR with 89 home runs—production that places him among the most valuable middle infielders in baseball.
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Diamondbacks are "definitely motivated" in moving Ketel Marte this offseason but "will ask for a lot in return", per @BNightengale
He’s under club control through 2030, with a player option for 2031, and brings defensive versatility that is any manager's dream. While Marte’s a primary second baseman, acquiring him wouldn’t force the Cubs to move Nico Hoerner after his breakout 2025 campaign.
At 32, a shift to third base or right field is realistic—two areas where Chicago needs help. That positional flexibility could give Craig Counsell endless lineup options without sacrificing the offensive upside of his "best nine."
Marte is still elite in just about every offensive metric. His .390 xwOBA last season was better than 97 percent of his peers. His expected batting average and expected slugging were also elite, and he was in the top 15 percent of hitters in bat speed.
The Cost of Doing Business
To get a player of Marte’s caliber, the price will be steep. A realistic offer would require the Cubs to include two of their top three prospects while also involving young big league talent. My projected trade package looks as follows.
Cubs get:
- INF Ketel Marte
- RHP Ryan Thompson
Diamondbacks get:
- OF Owen Caissie (Cubs No. 1)
- 3B Matt Shaw
- RHP Jaxon Wiggins (Cubs No. 3)
If the Cubs can get away with it, maybe you swap Caissie for Moises Ballesteros (Cubs No. 2), but it’s going to hurt no matter what. Prospects like Wiggins and Caissie are highly regarded for a reason—but this is what it takes to land a game-changer under long-term control.
And that’s exactly what Marte is.
The Aftermath: A World Series-Caliber Core
Making this trade would leave Chicago with one of the most complete infields in baseball: Marte joining Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Michael Busch.
The outfield trio of Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Seiya Suzuki returns intact, with Marte able to shift out there when needed.
Behind the plate, Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya form a solid tandem, while Moises Ballesteros could see regular DH at-bats—or the Cubs could add another slugger like Kyle Schwarber to round out the middle of the lineup.
On the pitching side, one big right-handed addition could balance things out—someone like Dylan Cease, a former Cub with postseason-ready stuff.
The bullpen gets a small boost with Ryan Thompson joining the likes of Daniel Palencia, Ben Brown, and Colin Rea. Jed Hoyer has a philosophy of getting cheap arms in the bullpen and, given their volatility year-to-year, adding reinforcements as the season goes on. I don't expect that to be any different this winter, but the Cubs may look to bring in a left-hander or two in free agency.
If the Cubs can stomach $150 million for Kyle Schwarber and another $150 million for Dylan Cease in free agency — and Cease feels far more realistic than Schwarber — they’d still be spending less overall than what Kyle Tucker is expected to get this winter. And those two signings could give the Cubs one of the best rosters in the National League.
Projected Lineup:
- Michael Busch, 1B
- Nico Hoerner, 2B
- Ketel Marte, 3B
- Seiya Suzuki, RF
- Kyle Schwarber, DH
- Ian Happ, LF
- Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
- Dansby Swanson, SS
- Carson Kelly, C
Rotation:
- Justin Steele, LHP
- Cade Horton, RHP
- Dylan Cease, RHP
- Matthew Boyd, LHP
- Jameson Taillon, RHP
The Reality: You Can’t Have It Both Ways
It’s expensive. It’s bold. And it’s exactly what good teams do.
Cubs fans can’t have it both ways—clamoring for aggressiveness every winter but recoiling when prospects are part of the price. Even if the Cubs refused to move Caissie or Shaw, signing a high-end free agent like Bo Bichette or re-signing Kyle Tucker would block those same players anyway.
The Dodgers don’t worry about blocking prospects or trading assets. They trust their player development to keep the pipeline flowing. That’s the model the Cubs should follow.
If Ketel Marte is the piece that gives the Cubs their best chance to win the 2026 World Series—and his combination of power, versatility, and experience says he is—then make the move.
Sometimes, winning big means letting go. Does anyone regret trading Gleyber Torres to the Yankees for Aroldis Chapman in 2016? Of course they don't. The Cubs had a parade.
And for a fan base that’s waited long enough, this is the kind of move that says: the Chicago Cubs are back in the business of chasing banners.