Last offseason, the Boston Red Sox were linked to Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte. After another season plagued by controversy, Arizona appears to be exploring a trade of their star again. 

“I’d have to be open to making adjustments to what the roster looks like,” Arizona GM Mike Hazen told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe on Tuesday. 

As Marte’s name resurfaces in trade rumors, MLB Trade Rumors named the best fits for Marte’s services, including the Red Sox. “Second base isn’t a glaring need, especially with top prospect Franklin Arias looming as an option to push Trevor Story off shortstop, but the keystone and left field are the two positions where the Sox can most easily accommodate a bat if they want to upgrade the offense and sort out the playing time later,” wrote MLBTR’s Anthony Franco. 

A three-time All-Star, the 32-year-old second baseman had a down season in 2026, hitting .249/.316/.432/.748 with 31 doubles, 22 home runs and 76 RBI. However, over the last three seasons, he’s hit .274/.353/.500/.853, while leading all qualified second basemen with a 133 weighted runs created plus (wRC+). 

Defensively, Marte has a career 31 defensive runs saved, 10 outs above average and 15 fielding run value in 6.759.1 innings at second base. He is owed $77.75 million over the next four years under the six-year, $116.5-million contract extension signed in April 2025. 

Marte has red flags, though. In 2025, Marte requested personal leave in the days after the All-Star break following personal hardship, which put him on the restricted list. Then, during the Diamondbacks series in Boston in August, Marte unexpectedly didn’t show up for the game, catching Arizona’s brass off guard, again resulting in a trip to the restricted list. 

Last offseason, trade talks were centered around rookie starters Connelly Early and Payton Tolle and shortstop Marcelo Mayer. Early was sent to the Washington Nationals ahead of the trade deadline for infielder Curtis Mead, while Mayer was dealt for reliever Erik Miller. After Tolle's emergence as one of the sport's best young pitchers, he is presumably nearly untouchable in any trade talks. 

After depleting the farm system to acquire All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman, the Red Sox have little prospect capital to trade without further emptying the cupboards of what is now a bottom-10 farm system. 

Hazen told reporters in Las Vegas at the GM Meetings that he is seeking left-handed hitters and pitching. Two things the Red Sox have in abundance. That said, unless the price has come down significantly from last offseason, it seems unlikely the Red Sox have the ammo to land Marte in a trade. 

At the team’s end-of-season press conference on Oct. 5, manager Chad Tracy told reporters the team’s broad plan was to start Mead on opening day, while leaving room for that to change depending on how the offseason plays out. However, Marte would offer a significant defensive upgrade over Mead if the team acquired him. 

Marte is no doubt a great hitter and would be a significant upgrade to the Red Sox lineup. However, his unexpected disappearance while the Diamondbacks were in Boston raised questions about bringing him into a clubhouse with so many young players and little veteran leadership to keep him in line. 

While Marte seemed like a near-perfect fit heading into the season, he is no longer one, despite his immense talent.