The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Monday night that second baseman Ketel Marte has been transitioned to the restricted list, just before their away matchup with the Boston Red Sox (BOS 11, ARI 1). To fill his roster spot, the Diamondbacks brought up infielder Jose Fernandez from Triple-A.
According to manager Torey Lovullo, Marte’s designation to the restricted list occurred because he did not arrive at Fenway Park for the Monday evening contest, though Lovullo assured that Marte was “fine.”
“It’s been a wild day,” Lovullo remarked following Monday’s defeat in Boston. “The only detail I have is that (Marte) is managing a private matter. We are attempting to sort through it. He was absent today, which led to his placement on the restricted list.”
Lovullo further explained that contact with Marte had been “very limited,” adding that he “was putting in every effort to connect with him, but received very little in return.”
The manager indicated that he thinks Marte is currently in Boston, where the squad journeyed after wrapping up a weekend set in Atlanta.
Major League Baseball organizations can relegate players to the restricted list due to unexcused absences, private affairs, or non-sporting issues. While on this list, players receive no financial compensation and do not accumulate MLB service time until they are reinstated.
This roster designation happens nearly a year to the day after Marte made a public apology for stepping away from the squad following the 2025 All-Star break. His previous hiatus occurred after his seasonal residence was broken into. Over time, several of his Arizona teammates voiced discontent regarding his missed games and requests for time off during a crucial postseason push.
“At times you experience disappointment. At times you are let down. Nevertheless, we will find a path forward,” Lovullo stated on Monday. The skipper added that the other players in the clubhouse had a “lot of questions” regarding the circumstances, but once they were assured that Marte was safe and uninjured, “everyone calmed down and channeled their attention to the match.”
The 32-year-old Marte has fallen short of his usual All-Star caliber performance in 2026, yet he was still putting together a solid campaign for the playoff-chasing D-backs.
As a three-time All-Star, Marte is currently playing under a six-year, $105 million deal with Arizona spanning through at least the 2030 campaign, which also includes an $11.5 million player option for 2031. Having gathered a career WAR of 34.9 with the franchise, he sits in third place on Arizona’s historical WAR rankings.
Fernandez was available to step into Lovullo’s starting lineup because he had traveled to Boston as a precautionary measure in case third baseman Nolan Arenado required an injured list designation, according to MLB.com. Fernandez finished the game 1-for-3 in the defeat.
Currently holding a 66-60 record, the Diamondbacks trail the Padres by just a single game for the National League’s third and final wild-card position.
