MLB insider reports that an AL contender can re-enter Ketel Marte mix

If the Arizona Diamondbacks have had their hands full with second baseman Ketel Marte, USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale has a solution.

"I could see the Rays jumping back in this thing," Nightengale said on the Foul Territory podcast . "Obviously they don't have to give up as much as a year ago."

Nightengale said that the Rays were a team that made an offer for Marte last offseason. Since then, Marte's production dipped to the point where he posted his worst OPS (.748) since 2022. He will not win the Silver Slugger for 2026, after he won it in each of the previous two seasons.

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"He's got a reasonable contract, it's about $15 million a year, $85 million left," Nightengale said. "And you've got to have a strong clubhouse presence if you're going to get Marte. The Rays have that in Yandy Diaz. Marte really didn't have that clubhouse leadership (in Arizona) to kind of rein him in.

"So someone whoever wants him has got to feel strong about that clubhouse influence to say, 'You know what, he's not going to pull the same stunts he did in Arizona.'"

The Rays ranked 24th out of 30 Major League Baseball teams in OPS from second base (.669) in 2026, as well as 23rd in Wins Above Replacement (per Fangraphs) from second base (0.8) in 2026. Marte posted 2.5 Wins Above Replacement (per Fangraphs) in 2026.

Despite not securing Marte in last year's trade market, the Rays won the American League pennant in 2026.