Ketel Marte’s market appears to be heating up.

Ever since the off-season began, rumours have been running rampant around the Arizona Diamondbacks’ superstar second baseman, with nearly one-third of the sport being mentioned as potential suitors in a blockbuster trade. The Toronto Blue Jays, of course, have been firmly among that mix because of Bo Bichette’s uncertain return in free agency.

Acquiring Marte if Bichette were to sign elsewhere would obviously make for an excellent pivot, further bolstering the organization’s already talented position-player group. But pulling off such a high-stakes heist likely won’t come easy for Toronto’s brass.

All indications suggest Arizona is seeking cost-effective and controllable pitching in return for Marte, who’s on the books for an affordable $102.5 million through 2031 — $41 million of which is deferred. With 2026 AL Rookie of the Year favourite Trey Yesavage likely deemed untouchable, the Blue Jays’ system may not possess the necessary pieces to make a market-topping offer.

Meanwhile, two other AL East-residing clubs might be able to meet the D-backs’ demands more successfully.

The Boston Red Sox are among several clubs that have expressed interest in Marte this off-season, as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports, and could present a lucrative offer thanks to their immense starting pitching depth.

Most of Arizona’s focus would surely involve Connelly Early and Payton Tolle, both of whom made their major league debuts last season. But there’s even more near-MLB-ready talent behind those young arms, too. It’s also possible that Brayan Bello (signed through 2029 with a ’30 club option) could be made available following Sonny Gray’s arrival from the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this winter.

The Tampa Bay Rays have also been tied to Marte recently, with The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro reporting both sides have discussed a potential package involving starters Ryan Pepiot and Shane Baz — both free agents after 2028. Other hurlers that could be featured in talks include Joe Boyle, Ian Seymour and Joe Rock.

If the Rays acquired Marte, it’d essentially confirm the eventual departure of current second baseman Brandon Lowe, who’ll earn $11.5 million next season in the final year of his eight-year, $45 million contract.

There are some red flags associated with Marte, particularly his clubhouse impact, with many questioning the length of his extended absence in the Dominican Republic after his Scottsdale, Ariz., home was burglarized during the All-Star break. However, there’s zero doubt over the 32-year-old’s on-field impact as the sport’s top-producing second baseman, with his MLB-leading 15.3 fWAR since 2023 at that position.

Still, it remains to be seen if Arizona will ultimately trade him this off-season.

Needing to add some thump in the outfield, the Kansas City Royals have reportedly taken a flyer on veteran Lane Thomas, inking the free-agent outfielder to a one-year deal worth $5.25 million for next season.

The former Blue Jays draftee, a fifth-round selection in 2019, battled plantar fasciitis in his right foot for most of last season, limiting him to just 39 games with the Cleveland Guardians and severely diminishing his offensive output. He finished with just four home runs and 11 RBIs, hitting .160/.246/.272 with a well below-league-average wRC+ of 48.

Kansas City is assuredly betting on a return to form with Thomas, who produced career-highs in home runs (28), RBIs (86), SLG (.468), wRC+ (109) and fWAR (2.9) across 157 games as a right-handed-hitting platoon specialist with the Washington Nationals in 2023. He’ll likely earn most of his reps in left field, filling a role previously vacated by Mike Yastrzemski — now with the Atlanta Braves.

The Royals also made a move to help preserve their position-player core on Friday, agreeing to a five-year extension with Maikel Garcia that includes a 2031 club option, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal ensures that Garcia and fellow cornerstone Bobby Witt Jr. will remain with the franchise through at least the current decade.