The Arizona Diamondbacks have locked up one of their young players for the long term, reportedly agreeing to a five-year, $24-million extension with infielder Ketel Marte, sources told Robert Murray of FanRag Sports.
It also reportedly contains two club options that could raise the contract's total value to $46 million.
Marte's 2018 contract was renewed by Arizona at slightly above the league minimum - $578,200, according to Cot's Contracts - earlier this offseason. Had he not agreed to the extension, he would have entered his first year of arbitration eligibility next year, and as a Super Two player with less than two years of big-league service time wouldn't have reached free agency until after the 2022 campaign.
The 24-year-old was initially signed by the Seattle Mariners out of the Dominican Republic in 2010, and reached the majors in 2016. He was acquired by the D-Backs last offseason in a trade that also brought Taijuan Walker to the desert.
Marte appeared in 73 games for Arizona in 2017, and hit .260/.345/.395 with five homers, 18 RBIs, 18 extra-base hits, and three stolen bases; he then hit .412 with a homer and two triples during the playoffs. He also provided a solid glove at shortstop, posting a 1.1 ultimate zone rating in over 500 innings at the position.
Despite being a shortstop by trade, Marte is likely to be the Diamondbacks' Opening Day second baseman when the season begins on Thursday. He's only made four big-league appearances at second base.
