The Philadelphia Phillies are one of many teams expressing interest in making a big trade this winter. While some clubs eye Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, others are keen on the Arizona Diamondbacks for Ketel Marte.
According to MLB Network insider Jon Morosi, the Phillies are interested in Marte, and are far from the only club showing an interest in the All-Star second baseman.
But Morosi also reported on the Diamondbacks' trade demand for Marte. Those demands will make things very tricky for the Phillies, as it might be a long shot to acquire the superstar infielder based on previous Phillies rumors.
Phillies' interest in Ketel Marte hits snag with Diamondbacks' asking price
"The DBacks are willing to engage with teams on Ketel Marte," Morosi reports, "but the price tag is high -- with an emphasis on starting pitchers who are at (or near) the major-league level."
What this means is that the Diamondbacks, as part of the return for Marte, are looking to acquire a starting pitcher who can make contributions in the Major Leagues as soon as 2026.
While the Phillies have some depth in the rotation with Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, Taijuan Walker, Zack Wheeler, and Cristopher Sanchez, Wheeler isn't set to return at the start of the year, and the others are either too difficult to trade or not worth it for the Phillies.
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That leaves just one realistic option for the Phillies to try and move as part of this deal: top prospect Andrew Painter. He's been rumored to be the future of the Phillies' rotation for a long time, and now that he's on the 40-man roster, and as close as ever to the Major League roster.
Moving on from Painter after years of waiting would sting for the Phillies, but if it could land a strong option like Marte, then it might be worth it.
However, the Phillies have seemingly placed Painter as a non-starter in trade talks, and even if it's for a player as good as Marte, Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies might not swing such a deal.
Paying close attention to trade rumors in the coming weeks will be key to understanding what the Phillies plan to do this winter, as the team's stance on Painter could dictate whether they acquire a supreme talent like Marte or not.
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