The Toronto Blue Jays are heading into the MLB Winter Meetings with a leg-up on their competition in the free agent and trade markets. While some clubs, like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, look to be conservative, the Blue Jays are aggressive.
Those teams are still vying for top players this winter, but no team is expected to spend more than the Blue Jays this offseason. They've already broken the bank for Dylan Cease on a $210 million deal, and more is coming over the next few months.
One target is an Arizona Diamondbacks infielder on a $105 million deal. And according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, the Blue Jays are among a few MLB teams showing interest in and having trade talks over superstar second baseman Ketel Marte.
Blue Jays among clubs interested in Diamondbacks Ketel Marte
"Blue Jays among teams, along with Red Sox and others, interested in D-Backs superstar Ketel Marte," Heyman reports. "Talks happening but nothing hot yet."
This report from Heyman is an encouraging one for the Blue Jays, as it shows that not only are the Blue Jays looking into the trade market of Marte, but they're one of a few teams in trade talks with the Diamondbacks as his market kicks off.
While nothing is "hot" yet in these trade talks, the fact that the Blue Jays are named as a team interested, and potentially having trade talks, is a good sign for their chances of landing the superstar infielder.
Marte would take over second base if they could pull off this trade, and while that isn't the biggest position of need, landing someone as good as Marte would be a no-brainer.
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He's a great fielder, and more importantly, is arguably the best-hitting second baseman in all of Major League Baseball.
Last season, Marte hit.283 with 28 home runs, 136 hits, 87 runs scored, 28 doubles, 72 RBIs, 64 walks, 83 strikeouts, and an.893 OPS in 126 games played.
It was a second-straight All-Star season for Marte, and the now 32-year-old infielder, who's under contract through 2030 with a 2031 player option, is on the trade market.
Adding a player with as much talent offensively as Marte would be a good move for any team, but for the Blue Jays, it's the exact kind of move that could get them back to the World Series in 2026.
Their interest is welcome, and with trade talks occurring - though nothing is close - the Blue Jays could make one of the biggest splashes of the offseason by landing the superstar infielder in a blockbuster trade.
More Blue Jays News:
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- Kyle Tucker spotted at Blue Jays facility, per MLB insider
- Former MLB GM reveals Max Scherzer's Blue Jays free agent wish
- Dylan Cease contract details for $210 million Blue Jays deal revealed