Navigating Marte's Disputes: The Diamondbacks' Strategy
The Diamondbacks manage with Ketel Marte on the restricted list, affecting team dynamics as the playoffs approach. Can the current situation be resolved?
Video Transcript
They have got still a little bit of room to be able to try to work this out, but that's all contingent upon the Padres not ripping off another 13 out of 15 games and winning.
So they, they've got to be very careful over the next week or so.
A lot of turmoil I got a feel in that organization.
And, with the loss of Marte, I don't think we're gonna see him back.
I don't know if once you put him on the restricted list and he's under contract, right, it's not like you can't just drop him, right?
You're not paying him.
But at the same time, as soon as the season's over, do you just release him?
Is that how that works?
No, because I think he's got a long-term contract.
So, so I, I guess what's probably gonna happen with this, and, you know, I've been wrong before on these issues, but w- on these, CBA issues.
But what, what I think could happen, let's just say that- is, is the Diamondbacks will just have him on this restricted list indefinitely, and then eventually the agent for Marte will, like, call the Player's Union and say, "Hey, it's time to start paying Marte again.
You gotta re- you gotta get him off the restricted list."
And then they have this discussion.
Right.
"Okay, okay, but is he gonna come back to the team?
'Cause if not, we're gonna keep him on the restrict..." You know, that kind of stuff.
So that's when- Gotcha the Player's Association files a grievance.
They get involved.
They're always gonna fight for the player regardless of that.
This is, th- this restricted stuff is not indefinite.
He, and g- Marte- Oh, it's not?
It, it No, no.
Marte is gonna look at his direct deposit, Joe, and there's nothing coming in.
Yes.
And he's gonna say- Right "Okay, I'll, I'll, I'll, listen, I'm not gonna go play for them, but I'll, I'll show up and I'll start working out, and I'll do whatever they need me to do to get off that restricted list."
I mean, Joe, you know how it is.
Yeah.
Like we all do.
We don't get the- Yeah money in the, in the bank.
We're like, even though Marte's got $100 million- Yeah he's gonna look and say, "Wait a second here.
I'm not getting paid?
Okay, I'll start showing up and get my, my money again."
Your outlook looks different.
Yeah.
Yes.
Yeah, your outlook- Yeah, it doesn't mean they don't play starts to look a lot different.
A- a- Right and by the way, they could c- they could also come to an agreement.
They could come to an agreement.
Yes.
And, and look, they, the, the, they can't withhold his pay.
The, you can't do that.
But they can- Not for long, right keep him on the restricted list for, for a period of time until the Player's Association starts to get involved and, and Marte's agent starts to get involved.
But I, I don't, I don't, we, it, it seemed like today we got a little bit more clarity that maybe th- that he, he, he said through his agent that he doesn't wanna play again.
So, you know, we'll see.
We'll, we'll see what happens there.
I'm curious, what happens if he's not playing by the time the, the postseason comes?
Does that take up a roster spot?
Are they allowed to replace him, or does he count- Yeah against- Yeah.
If he's a res- if he's on the IL, yes.
But they haven't placed him on the IL yet.
If- He's still, he's on the restricted list.
He's gonna come back from the restricted list.
Interesting.
And then I think he'll go- Yes on the IL, and that will allow him to get paid, but it will allow them to replace him on the roster.
To replace- I, I mean, I, I- him on the roster.
There you go.
I, yeah, I would assume the Diamondbacks will wanna do that.
If, if the Diamondbacks were out of it, Joe, they may just wanna put him on the restricted list the rest of the season if they- I agree get into it like that, you know?
I agree.
But, but they w- Yes, I agree I would assume they wanna call somebody else up for that.
And by the way, they, I, I believe they did call somebody up, but that's also, like, playing with a man short, playing with 25 guys.
I'm assuming they're only- That's correct playing with 25 today and not 26.
Yep.
Eventually they gotta make a move so they can have 26 again.
This has got to come to, to a head one way or together, and sooner rather than later for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
