Ketel Marte has long been the heartbeat of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and in 2024, he delivered a season that reminded everyone why. The veteran infielder earned his second All-Star nod, took home a Silver Slugger award, and finished third in the National League MVP race. All of this while playing a pivotal role on a club that’s remained competitive in the wake of its 2023 World Series appearance. It was, by all accounts, the kind of campaign that further cements his legacy.
So, it made sense when the D-backs rewarded Marte with a six-year, $116.5 million contract extension on April 3, 2025, ensuring he’d be under team control through 2030 with a player option for 2031. It was a move that showed loyalty, trust, and perhaps even an emotional investment in a player who’s been with the franchise since 2017.
Just 24 hours later, that warm feeling quickly vanished. While legging out a double against the Washington Nationals on April 4, Marte pulled up with what would later be diagnosed as a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. Brutal timing one day into his new mega-deal. For fans and front office staff alike, it felt like one of those cruel twists from the baseball gods.
Thankfully, the injury was relatively mild. Marte missed 23 games and returned to the lineup on May 2. But the timing of the strain only further magnifies the question. Did Arizona take the right approach in locking up their franchise star deep into his 30s?
Diamondbacks get sentimental with Ketel Marte’s latest extension
Let’s be clear — Ketel Marte deserves to get paid. Over his nine seasons in Arizona, he’s been the epitome of consistency and production. He’s racked up a 28.9 WAR, slashed .284/.356/.490, launched 140 home runs, and driven in 466 RBIs. He’s played second base, shortstop, and center field. He’s been everything Arizona could ask for — and more.
He’s also now been extended three times by the organization:
- 2018: 5 years, $24 million
- 2022: 5 years, $76 million
- 2025: 6 years, $116.5 million — potentially up to $149.5 million with incentives
That latest deal restructures his previous contract and adds three additional years, keeping him under team control until he’s at least 36 years old. The catch? Marte will earn $20 million in 2028, then $22 million in both 2029 and 2030 — all seasons when he’ll be in his mid-30s, an age range where most players are either sharply declining or completely out of the league altogether.
Even if the hamstring injury was a fluke, the reality is that Marte has 11 grueling MLB seasons on his body, and playing demanding positions doesn’t get easier with age. Father Time, as we’ve seen time and again, remains undefeated.
For a franchise not exactly known for finessing contract structures, this deal feels eerily familiar. The Diamondbacks already swung and missed in the Jordan Montgomery saga, and they’ll eventually find out if their Corbin Burnes investment pays off. But rewarding Marte after his prime instead of during it seems like another case of poor planning. Through 2027, Marte will make under $14 million per season — an absolute bargain for his output. But once the risk of regression increases, so does his paycheck.
Why not flip the model? Pay more now, reward the performance when it’s still elite, and scale down later. Instead, Arizona is again backloading deals and betting that mileage, age, and injuries won’t catch up.
Of course we hope Marte beats the odds. We hope he’s still producing at an All-Star level at 35. But betting against decline is a strategy filled with risk. And for a team trying to recapture the magic of 2023, these kinds of emotional, backloaded deals signal more desperation than vision.
The Diamondbacks love Ketel Marte. The fans do too. But love doesn’t always age gracefully in professional sports. As Arizona continues to stretch their win-now expectations, they can’t afford to keep learning the same expensive lessons.