Which Direction Marte?

Writing for AZ Snake Pit, Makakilo evaluates whether Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte will bounce back or continue to decline following the 2026 season. Marte posted a 2.5 WAR in 2026 while experiencing drops in bat speed, hard-hit percentage, and defensive range. The writer argues an offensive rebound is possible if Marte improves against changeups, after his slugging percentage against the pitch dropped from .542 to .290.

Conversely, Makakilo cautions that Marte turned 33 in October and sits in the typical decline phase of the aging curve. Citing historical comparisons to similar age-32 batters who averaged 0.725 WAR over their subsequent four seasons, the author warns that knee and hamstring issues could accelerate his downturn. However, the piece notes a potential transition to designated hitter could help preserve Marte's batting production.