The Arizona Diamondbacks placed three-time All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte on the restricted list in mid-August 2026 following an unannounced absence ahead of a series opener at Fenway Park. While the club initially cited a personal matter, subsequent reports indicate that the franchise cornerstone has returned to Phoenix to undergo a medical evaluation on his left knee.
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Restricted List Placement and Medical Evaluation
Ketel Marte traveled with the team to Boston following their mid-August series against the Atlanta Braves. However, he did not report to Fenway Park for the August 17 series opener. The Diamondbacks delayed finalizing their starting lineup until minutes before first pitch, subsequently placing Marte on the restricted list and recalling infielder Jose Fernandez from Triple-A Reno. Boston won the opener 11-1.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo addressed the media post-game, explaining that Marte was attending to a personal matter and that the front office had received minimal communication. Lovullo noted that Marte was physically fine to his knowledge, though the team was still working through the situation.
On August 18, team reports revealed that Marte was flying back to Phoenix for an MRI on his left knee. Marte had previously exited an August 14 game against Atlanta with knee discomfort, missed the next game, and briefly returned on August 16 before the Boston trip.
MLB Roster Rules: While placed on the official restricted list according toMajor League Baseball roster policies, players do not receive pay and do not accrue Major League service time.
This represents the second consecutive season Ketel Marte has been placed on the restricted list. During the 2025 All-Star break, his Arizona residence was burglarized, prompting an unannounced trip to the Dominican Republic that resulted in a three-game absence for which he later apologized.
2026 Season Performance & Slash Line
Through 118 games in the 2026 regular season, Marte continues to anchor the middle of Arizona’s batting order, though his overall slash line reflects a slight dip compared to his previous three-year averages (.283 AVG, 29 HR/year, .887 OPS):
| Metric | 2026 Season Stat |
| Games Played | 118 |
| Batting Average (BA) | .249 |
| Home Runs (HR) | 21 |
| Runs Batted In (RBI) | 67 |
| On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS) | .760 |
Career Milestones and Playoff Legacy
Signed by the Seattle Mariners out of Nizao, Dominican Republic, in 2010, Marte made his Major League debut on July 31, 2015. In November 2016, Seattle sent Marte and right-hander Taijuan Walker to Arizona in a blockbuster trade for Jean Segura, Mitch Haniger, and Zac Curtis.
Over his career in the desert, Marte developed into one of baseball’s premier switch-hitting second basemen:
- All-Star Selections (3): 2019, 2024, 2025
- Silver Slugger Awards (2): 2024, 2025
- 2023 NLCS MVP: Batted .387 over seven games against the Philadelphia Phillies and set an MLB record with a 20-game postseason hitting streak.
- MVP Voting Finishes: 4th (2019), 3rd (2024 with 36 HR, 95 RBI, .932 OPS), 22nd (2025).
- Career Totals: Surpassed 1,300 hits, 190 home runs, and 650 RBIs, ranking among the top five position players in franchise WAR according to Ketel Marte’s Baseball Reference player page.
Contract Structure & Long-Term Financial Value
Marte remains under a long-term contract extension with the Diamondbacks running through 2030, which includes a player option for the 2031 season. According to contract tracking from Spotrac’s MLB payroll records, his remaining salary breakdown is scheduled as follows:
| Season | Base Salary | Contract Notes |
| 2026 | $15,000,000 | Active season salary |
| 2027 | $12,000,000 | Gains 10-and-5 full no-trade protection (April 2027) |
| 2028 | $20,000,000 | Guaranteed |
| 2029 | $22,000,000 | Guaranteed |
| 2030 | $22,000,000 | Guaranteed |
| 2031 | $11,500,000 | Player Option |
Summary of Current Status
| Category | Information |
| Player | Ketel Marte |
| Team / Position | Arizona Diamondbacks / Second Baseman |
| Roster Status | Restricted List (Effective August 17, 2026) |
| Replacement | Jose Fernandez (Triple-A Reno) |
| Medical Status | Scheduled Left Knee MRI (Phoenix, AZ) |
| 2026 Production | .249 AVG, 21 HR, 67 RBI, .760 OPS |
| Contract Status | Signed through 2030 (2031 Player Option) |
The Diamondbacks have not established a firm timetable for Marte’s reinstatement. Ketel Marte return to the active roster will depend on the findings of his knee imaging in Phoenix and the resolution of his personal matter.
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