Blue Jays blockbuster land Diamondbacks’ top second baseman

November 22, 2025 Admin SPORTS 0
Spread the love

After coming within a single win of a championship and ultimately falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a dramatic Game 7 of the World Series, it is only natural for people to question what direction the Toronto Blue Jays will take during the remainder of the offseason. Losing on baseball’s biggest stage is never easy, but the way Toronto competed throughout the postseason made it clear that this is a team built to contend, not one in need of a complete overhaul. Still, in a sport that constantly evolves, even strong teams are searching for slight upgrades that might be the difference between finishing second and raising a trophy the following year.

At first glance, it is difficult to find many glaring weaknesses on this Blue Jays roster. They just proved to the rest of the league that they can stand toe-to-toe with baseball’s elite when the pressure is at its highest. Their lineup features a healthy combination of youth and experience, blending exciting young talent with proven veterans who consistently deliver in key moments. The pitching staff has also shown its ability to handle elite lineups, and the overall chemistry of the team has helped carry them to success over the last few seasons. In many ways, Toronto could stand pat and still be viewed as a legitimate World Series favorite next year.

However, if the Blue Jays’ recent history has shown anything, it is that they are rarely content with simply running it back. The organization has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to pursue star power whenever the opportunity presents itself. The front office has never shied away from making bold moves, whether through free agency or trades, in an effort to bring high-impact players to Canada. There is a clear internal belief that elite talent wins championships, and that belief continues to drive their offseason strategy year after year.

Despite that aggressive mindset, Toronto’s attempts to land major external stars through free agency have not always been successful. While the team has managed to bring in useful contributors, they have frequently found themselves finishing second in high-profile pursuits or losing out to larger market teams in bidding wars. The one move that feels inevitable, and perhaps the most important of all, is tying Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to the franchise long term with a massive contract extension. Securing him as the face of the organisation would be a monumental step. Still, beyond that internal priority, the Blue Jays have struggled to land game-changing names on the open market.

This reality has naturally shifted the focus toward the trade market, which is often seen as the most realistic avenue for Toronto to significantly upgrade its roster. Trades allow teams to fill specific needs, avoid long-term free-agent bidding wars, and sometimes land star talent at a relative bargain depending on the situation of the partner team. According to Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report, Toronto could be a logical destination in a potential deal involving Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Ketel Marte's solo home run (7)

Marte is an appealing and versatile option. He is owed roughly $91 million through the 2030 season, a figure that, in today’s marketplace, is considered reasonable for a player producing at an elite level. Over the last three years, Marte has averaged around 30 home runs per season and posted an impressive 5.3 WAR annually. Those numbers place him among the most consistent and valuable middle-infielders in baseball. For a team like Toronto, which is looking for another high-impact bat to deepen its lineup, Marte represents exactly the type of player who could push them over the top.

What makes this situation especially interesting is that Arizona may actually be open to moving him. According to reporting from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Diamondbacks have some level of motivation to deal Marte, though it is not necessarily part of a full-scale rebuild. The organization is not giving off signals that they plan to completely tear things down. Instead, any move involving Marte would need to accomplish two key goals at once: saving genuine money on the payroll while still keeping the team in a competitive position for the 2026 season and beyond.

In other words, Arizona is not looking to give Marte away for prospects who are years away from helping. They would want players who can contribute at the major league level right away or in the very near future. From their perspective, an ideal trade package would include pitching help for a rotation that is currently lacking stability, as well as a right-handed hitter who could slot into one of the corner infield positions. Any team hoping to land Marte would have to meet those demands, which naturally limits the number of realistic trade partners.

Ketel Marte's leadoff home run (2)

For Toronto, constructing such a package is not impossible. The Blue Jays have a mix of young pitchers and MLB-ready talent that could appeal to a team in Arizona’s position. They also have some depth in certain positions that could be used as leverage in negotiations. The challenge would be finding the right balance — enough value to convince the Diamondbacks to move one of their best players, but not so much that it would weaken Toronto’s own championship window in the process.

If a deal like this did come together, it could dramatically reshape the Blue Jays’ lineup in a positive way. Marte’s switch-hitting ability, power, and versatility in the infield would give Toronto more options both offensively and defensively. He brings postseason experience, steady production, and the kind of presence that can lengthen a batting order and make an already dangerous lineup even more intimidating for opposing pitchers.

Still, this is not a move that can or should be rushed. Toronto must carefully weigh whether the cost of acquiring Marte is worth the long-term financial commitment and the loss of key assets. Championship windows in Major League Baseball are fragile, and one poor decision can close that window faster than fans realize. With that said, the disappointment of losing Game 7 on the sport’s biggest stage might be the very motivation the front office needs to push for one more bold move.

As the rest of the offseason unfolds, all eyes will be on Toronto’s front office to see whether they choose patience, make a minor adjustment, or go all-in on a high-profile trade. What is clear is that the Blue Jays are no longer a team merely satisfied with being competitive. They have tasted how close they are to ultimate glory, and that experience could be the driving force behind an aggressive pursuit of another star, one who might finally deliver the championship that slipped away just one game short.

Why trading for Ketel Marte makes sense

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte Getting Day Off After Inking Contract Extension

Adding Marte would be a straightforward move that instantly strengthens the Blue Jays with another high-impact talent. There is a compelling case that he stands as the best second baseman in all of baseball, and the offensive numbers back up that argument. In the 2025 season, he posted an impressive 145 OPS+ while blasting 28 home runs, showcasing a rare blend of consistent contact and significant power from the middle infield position.

Plugging that level of production into an already well-rounded Toronto lineup would take the team to another tier offensively. The Blue Jays have demonstrated that they can compete at an elite level, but adding Marte would make their attack even more dangerous and versatile.

His ability to generate runs, drive in teammates, and change the outcome of a game with one swing would give Toronto a new dimension in the infield. Beyond the numbers, his presence would lengthen the lineup, making it more difficult for opposing pitchers to navigate through key run-producing situations. Overall, acquiring Marte would be a major step toward making an already strong offense even more dominant.

MORE MLB NEWS:

Related Articles

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*