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The Pittsburgh Pirates trading for Brandon Lowe was a move no one expected. Now, if they want to show that they’re done being mediocre, they need to make a move for another star.
Fansided’s Christopher Kline believes that the Pirates could make that star be Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte. Marte is on a team-friendly deal, and Arizona is eager to shop him.
“The Pirates should still place their bid for Ketel Marte. The Lowe trade is a slight complicating factor, but Lowe was statistically the worst defensive second baseman in the AL last season at -13 outs above average. Pittsburgh can plug him and Marte into a weighted DH-2B exchange and live with the fruitful results. The Arizona Diamondbacks want to add pitching. Pittsburgh has as much MLB-ready pitching talent in its pipeline as any team. Hunter Barco, Thomas Harrington, Carmen Mlodzinski — the Pirates can whet Arizona's appetite quite fully. Marte is a rare breed of trade candidate, still in his prime window and under club control through 2031 at an exceedingly affordable rate,” Kline wrote.
This past season, Marte slashed .283/.376/.517/.893 with 28 doubles, 28 home runs, and 72 RBI in 126 games played. He would be a major upgrade to the offense and could actually make the Pirates into a playoff-hopeful team.
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Kline offered a 2B/DH split as a solution for Lowe and Marte, but Marte also has a good deal of experience playing at shortstop as well. Currently, Isiah Kiner-Falefa holds the position, but Marte would be a massive upgrade over him.
Hopefully, the Pirates test the waters on this, as it could be the move to put them in contention and become a team similar to the Cincinnati Reds.
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