💥 BREAKING NEWS: Los Angeles thought Ketel Marte was within reach—until the NL West slammed the door and exposed how hard rivals will fight to keep the Dodgers out ⚡.NL

THE “UNFORTUNATE” STANDOFF

LOS ANGELES, CA—The Los Angeles Dodgers’ quest to build a “super-roster” for their 2026 three-peat bid has hit a significant snag. While Andrew Friedman’s front office has already successfully landed elite closer Edwin Díaz and Japanese ace Blake Snell this winter, they have officially received a “cold shoulder” in their pursuit of Arizona Diamondbacks superstar Ketel Marte.

As of December 19, 2025, multiple reports—including insights from The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya—confirm that while the Dodgers “would love” to add the 3-time All-Star to anchor their second base position, a trade between the two NL West rivals is virtually “impossible.”

WHY THE DEAL IS “DEAD ON ARRIVAL”

The hurdle isn’t Marte’s talent or the Dodgers’ prospect capital; it’s a deep-seated divisional grudge.

• The Rivalry Tax: The Diamondbacks have not traded a major league player to the Dodgers since the Jon Garland deal in 2009. Arizona ownership is reportedly adamant about not “contributing” to a Dodgers streak that has seen L.A. win the NL West in 12 of the last 13 seasons.
• The “Lopsided” Requirement: Insiders suggest Arizona would only consider a deal if the Dodgers “grossly overpaid,” likely demanding a package headlined by top-100 prospects Dalton Rushing or Alex Freeland—a price Friedman is historically unwilling to pay for an aging (32) star.
• The Standstill: Arizona Sports 98.7’s John Gambadoro reports that while trade talks for Marte are “ending soon,” the Diamondbacks are more likely to “shut it down” and keep him than send him to Chavez Ravine.

BY THE NUMBERS: WHAT THE DODGERS ARE MISSING

Metric	Ketel Marte (2025)	The “Dodger Need”
All-Star Status	3-Time All-Star	Seeking a high-OBP veteran for the middle infield.
Postseason DNA	.320+ Career Postseason Avg	Needed for the 2026 “Three-Peat” pressure.
Versatility	2B / CF	Would allow Tommy Edman to stay in CF full-time.
Contract	Friendly extension through 2027	Perfect fit for L.A.’s luxury tax management.

PLAN B: THE PIVOT TO BO BICHETTE

With the “unfortunate update” on Marte, the Dodgers have reportedly shifted their full attention to free agent Bo Bichette. Unlike the Marte situation, the pursuit of Bichette only requires money, not a trade with a bitter rival.

Bichette has signaled he is open to playing second base, which aligns perfectly with the Dodgers’ goal of keeping Mookie Betts at shortstop. Analysts suggest a 6-year, $186 million offer could be in the works to bring the former Blue Jays star to Los Angeles.

“It’s a tough pill for Dodgers fans to swallow because Marte is the perfect fit,” noted one MLB analyst. “But the NL West is a cold place. Arizona would rather watch Marte walk for nothing in two years than see him celebrate a World Series in a Dodgers uniform.”