Ketel Marte got slapped onto the restricted list minutes before the Diamondbacks were set to square off against the Red Sox on Monday night, instantly throwing a huge curveball into their tight NL wild-card race. This wasn’t some minor roster tweak either; the former All-Star second baseman’s sudden disappearance left everyone scratching their heads, especially when reports started swirling about his whereabouts. Arizona is in a heated battle for a postseason spot against the Padres and Phillies, and they absolutely need every player locked in right now.
What’s Going On With Marte? Manager Lovullo Is In The Dark
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo confirmed Marte didn’t report to Fenway Park for the game. He mentioned Marte was dealing with a personal issue, but man, Lovullo struggled big-time to get any real information out of him. “There was very little coming back,” Lovullo told reporters, even though he knew about a personal situation as early as Monday morning. Talk about frustrating! There was, understandably, “a lot of curiosity” in the clubhouse about where Marte was, but the team apparently relaxed once they knew he was okay. The D-backs even held off submitting their lineup right until first pitch, hoping Marte would show up to be the designated hitter. When he didn’t, Arizona put him on the restricted list and activated infielder Jose Fernandez. To make things even wilder, insider John Gambadoro reported Marte was seen chilling at the team’s Boston hotel bar *after* the game Monday night. Seriously?
The Restricted List And Marte’s Troubled History
So, what even is the restricted list? It’s for players still under contract who aren’t physically with the team for various reasons. MLB has to approve the placement, and here’s the kicker: the team doesn’t have to pay a player on that list. Usually, these are absences without permission, since there are other ways to handle things like bereavement or paternity leave. This isn’t even Marte’s first time on it. Back in 2025, he missed three games after his Scottsdale home was broken into. He spent that time in the Dominican Republic and later apologized because it reportedly caused some serious frustration within the clubhouse. Not a great look, right?
What’s Next For The Diamondbacks And Marte?
The Diamondbacks *can* activate Marte anytime they want. But whether they’ll pull the trigger in the next few days? That’s still a massive question mark. Lovullo admitted he hadn’t “got that far” when asked about Marte’s status for Tuesday and beyond, adding, “I need a good night’s rest, a glass of wine and we’ll think about that.” By Tuesday, though, the word came out that Marte returned to Arizona for a knee MRI, according to Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. The D-backs are in the thick of a wild-card race, they need everyone on the field battling. This kind of off-field drama is the absolute last thing they need when every game matters. You gotta wonder if this whole situation is going to be a distraction when they’re fighting tooth and nail for a spot.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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