The MLB hot stove is finally heating up. Over the past week, several significant trades have gone down around the league. Taylor Ward was dealt to the Orioles, followed by the Mets picking up Marcus Semien. Even today, the Red Sox landed All-Star pitcher Sonny Gray from the Cardinals. With all this movement, the question now is: when will the Philadelphia Phillies jump into the action?
The Phillies are thought to be big players this offseason, and the trade market might be where they can make their biggest splashes, aside from re-signing Kyle Schwarber. Recent reports indicate that the Arizona Diamondbacks are “actively listening to offers” on second baseman Ketel Marte, and the Phillies have checked in on the three-time All-Star.
Phillies-Diamondbacks Trade Includes Massive Haul
So, what would it take for the Phillies to acquire Ketel Marte? Probably a lot.
In this trade proposal, the Phillies would have to give up third baseman Alec Bohm, southpaw reliever Matt Strahm, and prospect Justin Crawford. Ketel Marte comes with a hefty contract of six years, $105 million that runs through the 2030 season. Philadelphia would likely have to pick up a large chunk of that contract to make a deal like this worth it, which is why they are giving up so much capital in return.
However, Marte is one of the top second basemen in all of MLB by a large margin. In 126 games in 2025, the switch-hitting Ketel Marte hit 28 home runs, drove in 72 runs, and had an impressive 145 OPS+. And that is a “down” season in comparison to his 2024 season, when he hit 36 home runs and finished top-3 in NL MVP voting. His value can not be understated, but there was some slight frustration about Marte being a team player at the end of last season, and it caused some ripple effect in the Diamondbacks’ clubhouse this season.
Since 2023, Marte has posted a 16.1 bWAR. He’s projected by BaseballReference.com to have 26 home runs and hit .276 over 467 ABs in 2026.
What About the Phillies’ Player Being Traded
What makes this trade proposal so significant are the specifics behind it. Alec Bohm is widely viewed as a potential trade chip for the Phillies this offseason. Although he was an All-Star in 2024, his production dipped a bit this year. He isn’t set to hit free agency until 2027, but moving him now would allow Philadelphia to avoid a future payday. Bohm’s power still hasn’t fully developed, yet he has consistently hit around .280 over the last four seasons.
Strahm and Phillies prospect Justin Crawford are the pieces that would spark Arizona’s interest. If the Diamondbacks want to remain competitive going forward, dealing Marte wouldn’t necessarily prevent that. They could use a reliable bullpen arm like Strahm, and Crawford—who is nearly MLB-ready—could step in and potentially take over the second base role Marte would vacate.
If the Diamondbacks do decide to move on from Ketel Marte, expect the Phillies to make a good run at him, as Dave Dombrowski looks to strike this offseason in a big way.
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