Ketel marte & diamondbacks agree to deal

Superstar second baseman Ketel Marte and the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a six year $160 million extension for him to stay in Arizona through 2031. The contract came with $46 million of deferred money, and a player option for the 2031 season.

The 31 year old Marte has been in Arizona since 2017 when he was traded from the Seattle Mariners. 

Marte has been known as one of the best utility players in the MLB for most of his time in 

Arizona. He has had at least a .260 average in every season except for one in Arizona. He has been one of the few mainstays on a turbulent Arizona team. 

Arizona is a small market team, so most of Marte’s excellence has gone unnoticed, but he introduced himself to the world in the 2023 playoffs. He set a record 18-game hit streak in the Diamondbacks world series run. They lost the World Series in five games to the Rangers, but Marte made sure his presence was felt in the series. He had five hits and four walks, while only striking out twice. 

In 2024 he had a .292 batting average, and a 6.8 WAR in 136 games for the struggling Diamondbacks. He also added a career high 36 home runs. He has only hit above 20 home runs two other times in his career. 

Marte has shown the ability to play multiple positions at an above average to elite level, which provides an incredible amount of value for the Diamondbacks. 

The Diamondbacks still have a good young core of players such as Corbin Carroll, and Geraldo Perdomo who they hope can continue to improve around Marte. This core looks to be perennial contenders for the foreseeable future, and the Marte deal shows that the front office believes that.

Mason Garcia

DiSportsPhotoAgency

Associate Writer