Torey Lovullo has changed how he plans to manage Ketel Marte after a difficult season for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The manager said he will no longer protect the veteran second baseman from questions surrounding his decisions if Marte returns in 2027.
Lovullo made the comments after agreeing to a two-year contract that will keep him in Arizona through the 2028 season. The Diamondbacks finished 86-76 and missed the postseason despite having the best record among teams that failed to qualify for October.
The comments also come after a season in which Marte dealt with a left knee issue and a controversial absence from the team. According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports on X, Lovullo said he intends to put more responsibility on Marte going forward.
“The decisions you make are going to be on you now. I am going to eliminate protecting you the way I have. I can’t do that anymore. At a certain point, I have to allow them (players) to advocate for themselves,” Lovullo said, according to Gambadoro of Arizona Sports.
The situation dates back to August, when Marte did not report to Fenway Park for a game against the Boston Red Sox. Arizona placed him on the restricted list before moving him to the 10-day injured list after an MRI showed inflammation in his left knee. He received an injection and was activated from the injured list on Aug. 31.
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Marte finished the 2026 season with a .249/.316/.432 slash line, 22 home runs and 76 RBIs in 141 games, according to Baseball-Reference. His 2.5 bWAR was well below his 6.8 mark from 2024, when he finished third in NL MVP voting.
The 32-year-old also reached a franchise milestone late in the season, becoming Arizona’s all-time leader in games played. He remains under contract through 2030, with a player option for 2031, giving the Diamondbacks a long-term investment in a three-time All-Star.
Arizona’s disappointing finish leaves Marte’s future as one of the team’s major offseason storylines. Lovullo’s return provides some stability, but his comments make clear that the manager expects a different level of accountability from his veteran infielder.
