Ketel Marte is back on the restricted list for the second time in his career, this time after he didn’t show up to Monday’s road game against the Red Sox.
The Diamondbacks didn’t post their lineup until 15 minutes before first pitch, when they announced the roster move. Jose Fernandez was recalled from Triple-A Reno, which was on an off-day between series in Tacoma, Washington, and Sacramento, California.
Arizona reportedly waited until the last possible second to announce the move, as they hoped the All-Star second baseman would arrive in time for the game.
The Diamondbacks didn’t give a reason why Marte missed the game, how long he will be out, or whether he made it to Boston at all after Sunday’s game in Atlanta. Marte is attending to a personal matter, according to Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com
Marte’s first stint on the restricted list, a designation for players away from the team without a reason and without pay, came in 2025 after his home in Arizona was burglarized and he lost $400,000.
That three-game break soon after the All-Star Game — and right after he’d requested off the Sunday prior — irked his teammates.
Those grumblings started anew earlier this season, after Marte cited lower back tightness to skip a game against the Dodgers with Shohei Ohtani on the mound. Manager Torey Lovullo refuted the reports and insisted there’s no love lost in the D-backs’ clubhouse.
Marte, an MVP finalist in 2024, has long been at the center of trade rumors, especially with Arizona’s position as a seller in 2025. The three-time is hitting .249 with 21 homers, 67 RBIs and a .760 OPS for an Arizona team in the thick of the NL West race.
He is currently in Year 2 of a six-year, $105 million deal.
