The Arizona Diamondbacks confirm they will not trade Marte and will continue to seek external reinforcements.

Earlier reports suggested the Arizona Diamondbacks might trade star second baseman Ketel Marte to bolster their pitching lineup. Yet, today, GM Mike Hazen announced that the team has officially notified others that Marte will remain with the club this offseason.

At the end of December last year, Hazen mentioned that the team would soon put an end to the trade rumors surrounding Marte and expressed his belief that a trade would not happen. After The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported earlier today that the team decided against trading Marte, Hazen confirmed this information.

Hazen said Marte was never close to being traded and that the team has now clearly informed all other clubs that he will not be moved: “This reaffirms what I have been saying throughout the offseason — I did not expect a trade. I just needed to do my job and listen to the offers other teams might present.”

Besides notifying other teams, Hazen revealed he personally called Marte to inform him of the decision, and they plan to have a detailed conversation after spring training begins. He emphasized that Marte holds no resentment: “He’s a professional player, and next season he’ll be among the top ten MVP candidates. Everything will go smoothly.”

The 32-year-old Marte is under a long-term contract through the end of the 2031 season, with six remaining years totaling $102.5 million in salary. He currently has the right to reject trades to five teams and will gain full no-trade veto power starting April 4.

Rosenthal’s report noted that even without trading Marte, the Diamondbacks might still sign Alex Bregman, but it’s more likely they will focus on acquiring a right-handed first baseman and bolstering their bullpen.

In response, Hazen said he would not discuss Bregman or any potential free agent signings, only stating: “We have many young players who can cover multiple positions emerging. We will look for opportunities to strengthen externally, and of course, continue to improve our pitching staff as much as possible. We remain active in both the free agent and trade markets, hoping to add a few relievers and stay open to enhancing our starting rotation if the opportunity arises.”