Under the proposed deal, Marte would join the Red Sox as they would trade away three top prospects to Arizona—the team’s first-, second-, and 13th-ranked prospects—led by Payton Tolle, along with Franklin Arias and Mikey Romero.
Marte is on a five-year, $76 million contract that runs through 2028. A three-time All-Star, NLCS MVP in 2023, and two-time Silver Slugger, he would provide Boston with a proven middle-of-the-order presence and an immediate offensive boost.
Details on the prospect group show why the deal would be described as blockbuster. Tolle is Boston’s top prospect and could join the Diamondbacks’ rotation right away; in last season’s action, he went 0-1 with a 6.06 ERA in seven games (three starts). Arias, the second-ranked prospect, is a Double-A shortstop hitting .467 with three homers and nine RBIs to begin the season, with a path to the majors projected for 2027. Romero, a 2022 first-round pick, is a Triple-A utility infielder who could be a bench option for Arizona but does not have a clear long-term path to regular playing time in Boston.
Analyst Donohue acknowledges the move would likely be an overpay, but argues it could stabilize a slideing lineup and give Marte the chance to anchor a legitimate middle of the order. He notes Boston previously explored Marte in the winter meetings, a path the Diamondbacks did not take at the time, but one that could re-emerge during the season if the returns are compelling.
