Reds caught in Ketel Marte trade chatter even though it's clearly the wrong move

The Arizona Diamondbacks are said to be shopping Ketel Marte this offseason, and suddenly the Cincinnati Reds have become a team to watch. While no MLB insider has specifically tied the Reds to the three-time All-Star, Cincinnati's need for an impact bat has led fans some to speculate that Marte would be a terrific fit.

Unfortunately, trading for Marte would be a massive mistake on the part of the Reds' front office. While it's hard to argue that Marte's bat wouldn't make the Reds better on paper, Cincinnati should keep their distance from the D-backs star this offseason.

The Reds should not trade for Diamondbacks All-Star Ketel Marte

Let's get this out of the way first — Marte is a fine Major League player and would add a jolt to the Reds' offense next season. Over the past four seasons, Marte has hit a combined .273/.357/.492 with 101 home runs and a 133 OPS+. The Reds could certainly use that type of bat in the middle of their lineup.

But Marte would be bringing more than just his bat. He's 32 years old and his new six-year, $116.5 million contract extension just kicked in last year. Marte will make $16 million next season, and then after a one-year dip to just $12 million in 2027, his salary jumps back up to $20 million in 2028, and $22 million in 2029 and 2030. Marte's deal also contains a player-option for 2031 when he'd be entering his age 37 season.

Anyone who's watched baseball for any length of time knows that players begin to decline in their mid-30s. Reds fans saw it most recently with Mike Moustakas after the organization committed $64 million to the former All-Star who was entering his age 31 season. In Moose's previous five seasons before inking his four-year deal with the Reds, he hit .264/.325/.491 with 130 homers and 114 OPS+. Given how poorly Moustakas' contract aged, it's unlikely Reds fans want to relive that nightmare.

There's also Marte's strange absence after the All-Star Game last season. Following the Midsummer Classic, Marte was placed on the restricted list and missed three games. Even though he gave a reason for his absence, it caused a ruckus in the D-backs clubhouse. Marte's dealt with criticism in the past about taking too many games off — something that reportedly got Hunter Greene in hot water with team officials last year.

To top it off, Marte is not an outfielder, he's a second baseman. Though Matt McLain struggled in 2025, all signs point to him still being a huge part of the Reds' efforts to contend in 2026. With Elly De La Cruz entrenched at shortstop and Ke'Bryan Hayes locked in at third base, where would McLain play if the Reds traded for Marte?

McLain is the far superior defender at the keystone, and after adding both Leo Balcazar and Edwin Arroyo earlier this offseason, Cincinnati already has a replacement at the ready if McLain stumbles out of the gate.

If Marte still played center field, as he did from 2019-2021, then perhaps this trade idea might make a little more sense. As it is, Marte's defense took a big step back in 2025. After registering 8 outs above average (OAA) in 2024, he was worth just 1 OAA last season. He's also lost a step in terms of sprint speed.

Fans also can't forget the matter of what the D-backs are looking for in exchange for Marte. He's coming off an All-Star campaign, so Arizona isn't going to just give him away. Would the Reds really be willing to sell off some of their future assets for an aging star on an expensive deal? That doesn't feel like a direction the Reds want to go.

All signs point to a decline, and it could happen as soon as next season. The D-backs, much like the Reds are a middle-of-the-pack contender, so if they're shopping Marte, there may be even more going on behind the scenes that the general public doesn't know about. The Reds should keep their distance.