Part of the fun of an MLB offseason (one that doesn’t have a lockout looming like a dark cloud) is dreaming about which blockbuster trades might transpire. As teams like the Toronto Blue Jays look to improve their roster via free agency, they’ll also explore trade routes to plug some holes in the lineup, starting rotation, and bullpen.

One of the most intriguing trade options on the market is maligned infielder Ketel Marte. Last month, I explored whether the Blue Jays had a case to trade for Marte, and while Toronto would love the injection of talent Marte would bring, there are many hurdles to overcome before even beginning to swing a deal with Arizona.

Marte would need to waive his no-trade clause first and foremost, but he may have worn out his welcome in the desert, and Toronto may be an ideal change-of-scenery locale.

We’ll never know the inner workings of trades like these, but it’s fun to ponder what happens behind the scenes in the machinations for superstar players. To get a facsimile of what a trade for Marte might look like, let’s play around with some scenarios on Trade Values.

These are just hypotheticals for now, but after firing up the Trade Machine and inputting some players, prospects, and cash, here are some win-win trade proposals that could satisfy both the Blue Jays’ and the Diamondbacks’ needs.

If your first thought was, “Wow, that’s a lot for Marte,” you’re not alone. This is where we begin to see the level of prospect capital and big-league talent it may take to pry one of the best second basemen in the league from the Diamondbacks.

Remember, Marte may be viewed as a distressed asset after a down year on the field and a drama-filled season off it, but he’s still valuable.

Including lineup staples like Nathan Lukes is where this trade really starts to hurt the Blue Jays. He has been a phenomenal story of baseball perseverance, as a player who spent more than a decade grinding in pro ball before establishing himself as a fixture in the Blue Jays’ lineup.

Heading into his age-32 season, Lukes is arbitration-eligible for the first time in 2027, and under team control through the 2030 season. As great as he’s been for the Blue Jays these last few years, Toronto needs a corner outfielder who can hit righties and lefties and not suffer from a platoon split drop-off like Lukes.

With players like Seiya Suzuki, Randy Arozarena, and Jake Bauers out on the free agent market, the Blue Jays could upgrade one of their corner outfield spots while also addressing their second base issue with this Marte trade.

Jake Bloss’ value may be higher now than it ever will be, as he was just named an Arizona Fall League All-Star and will figure into the Blue Jays’ starting rotation plans next year.

Adding their No. 3 prospect, Johnny King, sweetens the pot even further by giving the Diamondbacks a potential middle-of-the-rotation arm. Josh Kasevich could be ready to leap to the big leagues after spending 2026 with the Buffalo Bisons, slashing .282/.364/.363 in 130 games at Triple-A.

In the words of the immortal Prince: “Let’s go crazy, let’s get nuts.” If the Blue Jays are going to swing a deal for Marte, why not go all the way into the deep end and get Corbin Burnes as well? A trade of this magnitude would set the Blue Jays back, but it would also satisfy their need for a starting pitcher.

The Blue Jays were rumoured to have been players for Burnes before he signed his six-year, $210-million deal with the D-backs. Reportedly, the Jays believed it was a “done deal” with Burnes … until it wasn’t.

He returned late this past season after missing 16 months due to Tommy John surgery, but he finished 2026 on the injured list with a shoulder issue, which may be a red flag for prospective buyers.

Like Marte, Burnes has a no-trade clause, which could stop this proposal dead in its tracks. However, if Burnes is willing to relocate to Toronto, the Blue Jays would assume $140 million of Burnes’ remaining contract, freeing the Diamondbacks to reinvest that extra payroll as they see fit.

By adding the remaining $76 million on Marte’s contract, that’s $216 million back in the Diamondbacks’ bank account. The D-backs aren’t a small-market team by any means, but opening up that payroll gives them all the flexibility in the world to sign an even better high-priced free agent they could build around, like Tarik Skubal.

I started with Ricky Tiedemann and Sean Keys: Tiedemann is surplus pitching depth for the Blue Jays, and Keys is blocked at first base by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is signed through 2039. The Blue Jays experimented with Keys in the outfield during his second stint with the club, but he’s ideally suited for a corner infield position.

This trade scenario arguably hurts the Blue Jays less than the first one because it appears more palatable to send four players in exchange for Marte and Burnes rather than four players plus cash for Marte alone.

If the Blue Jays are going to go hog wild, it makes sense to include another player from the Diamondbacks, with Merrill Kelly being a secondary option as a starting pitcher target.

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