There’s a glaring issue with this article right off the bat – the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t make it to the World Series, let alone lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7. That was actually the New York Yankees who fell to the Dodgers in five games.
But let’s set that aside and focus on what the Blue Jays are actually doing this offseason. They’re facing some real decisions after missing the playoffs for the second straight year, and there’s growing speculation they might need to shake things up significantly.
The Blue Jays have shown they’re willing to swing big in the past, though their track record with external additions hasn’t exactly been stellar. Outside of locking up Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – which they still haven’t done, by the way – most of their star-hunting efforts have come up short.
That’s where trades come into play. Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report recently floated the idea of Toronto pursuing Ketel Marte from the Arizona Diamondbacks, and it’s not as far-fetched as it might sound.
“Marte is owed $91 million through 2030, which amounts to pennies for a guy who has averaged 30 homers and 5.3 rWAR over the last three seasons. All the same, Bob Nightengale of USA Today has reported Arizona is motivated to move him. They would presumably have to save real money in any trade they make, but not at the expense of their contention outlook for 2026. The club simply isn’t giving off rebuild vibes.”
The fit makes sense from Toronto’s perspective. Marte’s arguably the best second baseman in baseball right now, and his 145 OPS+ with 28 home runs in 2024 would be a massive boost to a Blue Jays lineup that’s shown flashes but lacks consistency.
What makes this interesting is Arizona’s apparent willingness to move salary while staying competitive. They’re looking for established pitching help and a right-handed bat for the corner infield – exactly the type of pieces Toronto could potentially offer.
The Blue Jays have some intriguing young arms in their system, and with uncertainty surrounding their own roster construction, they might be willing to part with more established talent than usual. It’s the kind of move that could signal whether they’re doubling down for 2025 or starting to think bigger picture.
All things considered, Marte represents the type of proven, cost-controlled talent that doesn’t hit the market very often. If Arizona’s really motivated to move him, expect Toronto to at least kick the tires on what could be a franchise-altering acquisition.
