10:58PM: The Diamondbacks informed teams earlier this month that they were open to discussing almost anyone on the roster, the Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro reports. Ketel Marte, Zac Gallen, and Christian Walker were among the club’s few untouchables.
6:14PM: With a 1-10 record over their last 11 games, the Diamondbacks are listening to offers heading into the trade deadline. The Snakes are “open” to discussing such major names as Starling Marte and Archie Bradley, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (Twitter link). In a longer subscription-only notes post, Rosenthal reports that the Astros have shown interest in Bradley, while the New York Post’s Joel Sherman reports that the Yankees have “checked in” on Marte’s availability.
While the Yankees are loaded with outfielders on paper, injuries to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton have thinned the depth, and Aaron Hicks just left today’s game with a potential injury to his leg. Marte would presumably immediately take over as the everyday center fielder, with Brett Gardner, Mike Tauchman, Clint Frazier, and Hicks if he’s healthy all handling corner outfield (and maybe DH alongside Mike Ford) duties until Judge and Stanton return.
Marte would also provide New York with potential longer-term help, as his contract contains a $12.5MM club option ($1MM buyout) for the 2021 season. Barring something unforeseen, the Yankees would surely exercise that option rather than let Marte leave for nothing, though they could potentially pick up Marte’s option and then flip him in another trade. Or, having Marte around to provide All-Star level production for at least one year could make the Yankees more open to moving Tauchman or Frazier in a deal this winter. (Assuming, hypothetically, that neither would be included as part of a Marte trade with Arizona in the first place.) Adding yet another outfielder with control could also spell the end of Gardner’s long tenure in the Bronx, as Gardner will himself be a free agent this winter if the Yankees decline their $10MM option on his services for 2021.
“The Yankees are believed to not want to add much, if any salary,” Sherman writes, which could be a complicating factor in a potential Marte trade. The veteran is earning the prorated portion of an original $11.5MM salary, and is owed a little under $2MM for the remainder of the 2020 campaign.
It was a little more than seven months ago that Marte was part of another major swap, coming to the D’Backs from the Pirates in a trade that Arizona thought would bolster the lineup of a potential contender. While Marte has done his part (entering today with a .322/.396/.458 slash line over 134 PA), the Diamondbacks as a whole have underachieved, leading to the team’s pivot to being deadline sellers.
The Astros were already known to be looking at Robbie Ray as a potential addition, and now have apparently cast their eyes towards another arm in Bradley. Like Marte, Bradley is also controlled through 2021, as Bradley has one more year of arbitration eligibility and should be due for a nice raise on his $4.1MM salary for 2020. The Astros could see Bradley as a boost to both their 2020 and 2021 teams, as Roberto Osuna’s uncertain injury situation might yet lead to Osuna missing 2021 due to Tommy John surgery.
The righty has performed well as Arizona’s closer, posting a 3.60 ERA, 10.8 K/9, and 4.00 K/BB rate over 10 innings entering today’s play. While Bradley hasn’t surrendered any homers, Statcast indicates that Bradley has enjoyed some good luck (a .318 wOBA that is far beneath his .418 xwOBA) considering all the hard contact he allows.
Pillar to the yankees instead?
Sure, it’s intra division and the rivals don’t line up often. It’s an ideal fit though if you can get past giving something to Boston
This is a guy the Tribe could afford
True, but they just don’t line up well. Not sure what CLE would be willing to send back that would benefit AZ
Tribe needs to add someone even if just pillar or Joyce.
Wouldn’t mind a trade for Marte.
Also Garcia has looked good today.
“Wouldn’t mind a trade for Marte.”
What team or fans *would* mind a trade for him? He’s a very good player on a very reasonable contract.
Lamb to Twins or so on. Marte to Indians,
Why would the Twins need Lamb? Donaldson is on the mend and besides we need a righty bat anyways. More importantly, Wes Johnson may be able to fix Ray so the Twins need to pull the trigger soon.
He was clearly being sarcastic
Padres should be interested. He can play left field. Even give grisham a day off vs some lefties. Dont think the price would be all that much.
Rather have both Pillar and JBJ to platoon LF.
Be cheaper and no financial commitment for 2021.
Would love Archie Bradley, but his price within the division might be a little to much.
I would be surprised to see Marte moved. Being that they gave up two top 150 kids to get him, they are going to want that back. No team beat their offer back then, is anyone desperate enough to beat it now? San Diego is buying everything so maybe them.
If it’s a relief pitcher. Phillies have interest
Padres! They are all in!!!
The Reds should be all of these two.
Where’s acunaISSTILLOVERRATED? I wonder if he thinks the Braves should trade for Bumgarner. >=} Damn it, MLBTR, give us emoji’s!!!
Lots of downtime for Bumgarner this year. An excellent opportunity for him to visit San Francisco and get that ball out of the ocean.
…get the ball out of the ocean? It’s probably in Hawaii by now.
Side note, from what Ryan Spaeder tweeted it sounds like the Padres are about to get Clevinger
Thx for the update. If this really happens it will be one hell of a blockbuster.
Who would San Diego looking to be giving up? I would think a good bit and a prospect.
*Good bat
Cubs need a leadoff hitter and bullpen help BADLY… but the price for these 2 is probably too steep unfortunately… but would be a great fit for the Cubs.
Marte is a guy I’m pulling for this year, An excellent season under extremely difficult circumstances. I can’t even imagine…
Just looked up what you meant, man that’s rough beyond belief, especially during a pandemic.
Yes, and he has four children ages 10 through 1. He said he wanted to retire from baseball after her death. But he decided to play as he had worked hard in the off-season in a bid to rebound from what was considered a disappointing 2019. One can imagine he is channeling some of that emotion onto the playing field. Along the way, he has become close friends with the unrelated Ketel Marte. I realize baseball is a business, but it seems harsh to be thinking about trading him after all this. The Diamondbacks seem like a classy organization who I imagine is handling this is the most compassionate way possible. This guy is a good player who can provide a contender with quite a boost. An inspiration and a reminder that these guys are human.
Ya. What a story line for him this year. My heart crumbled a bit for the man.
Marte might be my favorite player in all of MLB. If I’m generally feeling out of whack for some reason or another I tend to watch 3-5 minutes of Marte defensive highlights. He makes very difficult things seem very easy. If I remember right, the first pitch he saw in the big leagues he put out of the park.
Johnathan India from the Reds for Archie Bradley
I wonder if the Dbacks would be interested in Clevinger, who is controllable through 2022. Marte and Bradley should both be appealing to the Indians.
Come on, Mets. Get involved in SOMEthing. It’s not like we don’t need a closer, 8th inning, 7th inning, long relief or 4 starters or anything. Or a CF that can hit, an actual catcher under the age of 30, or a veteran, defensive infielder. While we are at it, find us a “gamer”, old school player who isn’t afraid to get peeved and show some emotion when his team blows 5 run leads. How about some fire in the dugout from a manager when his team lacks focus?
Sitting around and waiting for other teams to fail doesn’t work, unless you are the Mets opponents.
I always said when Marte was in Pirates uniform, he would be wearing pin stripes before his career is over.