The Seattle Mariners continue to be connected to All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte on the trade market as the winter meetings begin in Orlando, Fla. Jon Heyman of the New York Post was the latest to connect the two sides in an "X" post on Sunday.

Red Sox are among teams interested in D-Backs superstar 2B Ketel Marte. Gives them another star option after incumbent, coveted Bregman and Bichette. Mariners, Pirates, Rays, Tigers, Jays among others that fit KM. @BNightengale mentioned a couple of those teams 1st

Let's examine the situation here:

About the Mariners and second base currently

As it stands today, the Mariners figure to have former Top-100 prospect Cole Young as the starter at second, with Ryan Bliss and Leo Rivas serving as alternative options.

Young made his major league debut in 2025, putting together some very nice moments, but he struggled for the last two months and ended the year with just a .211 average. He didn't make the playoff roster at all.

About Marte

Now 32 years old, Marte will play the entire 2026 season at 32. An 11-year veteran of the Mariners and Diamondbacks, he's a career .281 hitter with 171 home runs and 587 RBIs.

Marte has seven seasons of double-digit home run totals and two seasons of 30 or more. He's got two seasons of 90+ RBIs, is a three-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger and an NLCS MVP.

He's signed through the 2030 campaign with just over $90 million remaining. There is also an $11.5 million player option for 2031. Given the price tags on premier players, he's relatively affordable.

For that reason, the Diamondbacks don't have to trade him, either, and the asking price will be steep.

About the Marte trade from the Mariners

The Mariners traded Marte and starting pitcher Taijuan Walker to the Diamondbacks on Thanksgiving Eve in 2016, acquiring Jean Segura and Mitch Haniger.

While Marte has turned into the best second baseman in baseball, Segura was an All-Star in Seattle, as was Haniger.

Segura was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies after the 2018 season as the M's began their rebuild. Haniger hit 39 homers in 2021 but injuries took their toll on him throughout his career. He signed with the San Francisco Giants before the 2023 campaign but was traded back to the Mariners before 2024. He was designated for assignment before the 2025 season and did not play at all.

The pros of a Marte trade

If the Mariners were to trade for Marte, they are getting the best offensive second baseman in baseball, simply put. That's the definition of a win-now move, and for a team coming off a trip to the American League Championship Series, a win-now move is what you should be making.

Furthermore, Marte is on an affordable contract, making about $18 million a year on average. While not insignificant, it's far cheaper than prices on the free agent market, and with Randy Arozarena and Victor Robles coming off the books following 2026, there's some room to work with the finances.

The cons of a Marte trade

Well, first and foremost, you'd be saying goodbye to Young's everyday chances. He could be dealt to the Diamondbacks himself, could be demoted to Triple-A or given utility duty with the M's. That would be a disappointing resolution for a Top-100 prospect.

Secondly, the Mariners would have to give up significant talent to acquire Marte, and they'd probably have to deal prospects that would hurt greatly in order to make it happen. Kade Anderson, Ryan Sloan, Jurrangelo Cijntje, Colt Emerson? They all could be moved. And with tough decisions mounting for the Mariners on the pitching side of things, having the pipeline of young pitching stay strong is among the most important stories for the organization in 2026.

And finally, with Marte occupying second base for the next several years, the Mariners would be blocking other young and exciting pieces from doing so. Young for sure, but what about Felnin Celesten, who is another Top 100 prospect?

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