Pirates Named As Top Landing Spot For $116.5 Million Star Infielder

The Pittsburgh Pirates plan to spend this offseason and could look to make a splash.

Pittsburgh wants to build a true World Series contender around Paul Skenes and the rotation. The Pirates do have some areas of need, and one area could be upgrading second base.

MLB insiders Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel named the Pirates the top fit in a trade for Arizona Diamondbacks star second baseman Ketel Marte.

“Teams believe they’ll have a better sense after the winter meetings of the Diamondbacks’ seriousness about moving the best second baseman in baseball,” the insiders wrote, in a piece published on Tuesday. “Marte has a very reasonable five years and $91 million (plus a sixth-year player option at $11.5 million) remaining on his contract, which means Arizona would want a whale of a return. …

“Team fits: Pirates, Giants, Phillies, Mariners, Royals, Athletics, Mets.”

Marte would be a massive get for the Pirates and would be a blockbuster trade. He’s entering the second year of his six-year, $116.5 million deal with the Diamondbacks, which also includes a player option for a seventh year in 2031 for $11.5 million.

Last season with the Diamondbacks, Marte hit .283 with 28 home runs and 72 RBIs.

Marte is a three-time MLB All-Star, including being an All-Star in back-to-back years. He’s also a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner and was the NLCS MVP in 2023.

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