The Arizona Diamondbacks have locked in one of their cornerstone players for the long haul. Star second baseman Ketel Marte has agreed to a six-year contract extension worth $116 million, keeping him in the desert through the 2030 season. The deal, which includes a player option for 2031 valued at $11.5 million, has not yet been formally announced by the club, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.
Marte, 31, had previously signed a five-year, $76 million deal in 2022 that would’ve kept him under contract through 2028. The new agreement effectively tears up that deal and replaces it with a fresh six-year pact, adding three more seasons and $64 million to his earnings.
The extension provides the Diamondbacks with some payroll flexibility as well. Per MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert, the deal includes $46 million in deferred payments, including $5 million slated for the 2025 season.
Coming off one of the most dominant campaigns of his career, Marte is being rewarded for his consistency and leadership. In 2024, he finished third in the National League MVP race behind Shohei Ohtani and Francisco Lindor. Marte slashed .292/.371/.561 with 36 home runs, 23 doubles, and 95 RBIs across 583 plate appearances—his best offensive season to date.
Performance incentives are also built into the deal, potentially increasing its value. If Marte finishes in the top three of MVP voting again, he’ll earn an additional $3 million in that season. A finish between fourth and seventh would net him $2 million, pushing the total potential value of the contract to $149.5 million, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
The Marte deal is the latest in a string of long-term commitments from the Diamondbacks, who appear to be solidifying a competitive core for years to come. Just last week, Arizona reached a five-year, $75 million agreement with promising young pitcher Brandon Pfaadt. Earlier in the spring, the team also locked up shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (four years, $45 million) and reliever Justin Martinez (five years, $18 million).
Now entering his ninth season with Arizona, Marte has become a fixture in the organization. Since being acquired from the Seattle Mariners in a trade that included pitcher Taijuan Walker, Marte has posted a .283 career average with an .844 OPS, 140 home runs, 209 doubles, and 465 RBIs in a Diamondbacks uniform. While he originally bounced between shortstop and center field, he’s found a permanent home at second base over the past two seasons.
Signed out of the Dominican Republic as a teenager by the Mariners, Marte has blossomed into one of MLB’s premier middle infielders—and with this extension, he’ll continue to be a central figure in Arizona’s pursuit of a championship.
