Trade buzz heats up as the Phillies eye a D-backs All-Star at second base, raising big questions about Bryson Stott’s future. DD
This is a fun trade rumor to think about.
It might be the worst-kept secret in Major League Baseball that the Philadelphia Phillies are trying to shake things up this offseason. Aside from a whole new outfield, the front office has an opportunity to make changes at a couple of infield spots.
To that end, it sounds like Bryson Stott’s future in Philadelphia might be in jeopardy with the Phillies reportedly considering a trade for Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte.
As much as Stott is a fan favorite and has had some massive moments in red pinstripes, Marte would obviously be a gigantic upgrade to the lineup at the keystone. The 32-year-old is a former MVP finalist and a three-time All-Star.
Phillies have been in touch with Diamondbacks about trade for Ketel Marte
MLB Network’s Jon Morosi broke the news on Tuesday that the Diamondbacks are actively listening to trade offers for Marte. And apparently one of the calls they have taken is from the Phillies.
“I think it’s at least a 50/50 chance that Ketel Marte is moved by the Diamondbacks,” Morosi told Hot Stove host Lauren Shehadi. “I talked to multiple sources on this in the last 24 hours. The Diamondbacks are actively listening on Ketel Marte. Nothing is close, but multiple teams have checked in. Among the teams to check in, the Phillies and the Blue Jays.
The interesting thing about this news on the Diamondbacks’ second baseman, is that neither the Phillies or Blue Jays are on Marte’s limited no-trade list, according to Morosi. So if an offer comes in that bowls over Arizona executive vice president and general manager Mike Hazen, Marte could be on the move. Not that anything is close.
Stott, a Phillies first-round pick in 2019, just completed his fourth big league season. While he plays Gold Glove-caliber defense and provides speed and stolen bases, the 28-year-old hasn’t quite been able to replicate his 2023 sophomore season with his bat.
After slashing .280/.329/.419 with 15 home runs, 62 RBIs, and 78 runs in 2023, Stott struggled to a .245/.315/.356 slash line while playing through an elbow injury in 2024. He did improve this season, slightly, batting .257/.328/.391 with 13 home runs, 66 RBIs, 66 runs scored, and 31 stolen bases.
Replacing Bryson Stott with Ketel Marte would capitalize on current World Series window
Upgrading to the switch-hitting Marte at second would give the Phillies a better chance at taking advantage of the window they currently have open with their aging core of veterans.
Marte is coming off a second straight All-Star and Silver Slugger campaign. He finished fourth in NL MVP voting after finishing third in 2024. In 126 games this year, he slashed .283/.376/.517 with an .893 OPS (145 OPS+), hit 28 home runs, drove in 72 runs, and scored 87 times. He also doesn’t strike out, running a 14.9 percent strikeout rate and 11.5 walk rate this season.
Not to put the cart before the horse, but we should take a brief look at how Marte’s addition would impact the Phillies’ payroll. He just completed the first year of a six-year, $116.5 million contract and he’ll earn $16 million next year. If the Phillies were to pull the trigger on a trade, they’d also owe him another $76 million from 2027 to 2030. Plus, Marte also has an $11.5 million player option for 2031.
On the other hand, Stott still has two more years of team control before hitting free agency in 2028. He’s projected to earn $5.8 million in arbitration this winter.
But there wouldn’t be room for both second basemen, so Stott’s time in Philadelphia would have to come to an end. Whether this rumored trade interest goes anywhere remains to be seen. There’s still a long offseason ahead, so anything could happen.
