At first glance, Friday's Shane Baz trade was positive news for the Boston Red Sox. Boston's collective competition didn't get any better or worse, as Baz went from one American League East team to another, but his departure from the Rays appeared to make Tampa Bay a weaker suitor for Ketel Marte, whom the Red Sox are also after.
The Rays have been in on Marte, but Baz was rumored to be one of Tampa Bay's biggest chips in a potential deal, as Arizona seeks pitching. With Baz no longer in the picture, did Tampa Bay just fall behind in the Marte race?
As it turns out, the opposite could very well be true. MLB Network's Jon Morosi pointed this out on Friday. While the Rays lost Baz, they gained a handful of prospects in exchange, including a pitcher (right-hander Michael Forret). The way that Morosi phrased it, Tampa Bay actually now has "more talent to deal than they did 24 hours ago," which ostensibly helps them in a potential trade for Marte.
Making the situation even more damaging to the Red Sox-Marte chase, the Rays and Diamondbacks have already established a strong trade rapport, having made five deals together over the past eight years or so, per Morosi.
Shane Baz trade may have just helped the Rays get closer to acquiring Ketel Marte, which is awful news for the Red Sox
The following is true:
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 19, 2025
1. The Dbacks are willing to listen on Ketel Marte, especially if pitching prospects are involved.
2. The Rays have more talent to deal than they did 24 hours ago.
3. The DBacks and Rays have made 5 trades in a little more than 8 years. @MLBNetwork
So, did the Baz deal actually just help the Rays in their pursuit of Marte, thereby hurting Boston's chances? Or, was Baz a key asset involved with seducing the D-Backs into a deal?
It all depends on what Arizona prefers. This is all assuming the Diamondbacks are going to trade Marte, in the first place. The reason many people think they will (ESPN's Buster Olney included) is that Marte's 10-and-5 rights activate a week into the 2026 MLB season, giving him the power to veto any trade moving forward.
In other words, if Arizona doesn't trade Marte before the upcomign season, they'll be "stuck" with him for the remainder of his contract (player option in 2031), through rain or shine. For a guy who's caused the Diamondbacks some clubhouse drama as recently as last season, and who's still owed over $100 million, this is a substantial risk.
Anything could happen, though, including Arizona deciding to just keep him. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal even suggested last week that the Diamondbacks could keep Marte and acquire Alex Bregman this offseason, which would be the deepest, darkest nightmare imaginable for Red Sox fans.