PHOENIX — With the Arizona Diamondbacks playing for their playoff lives, a group of veteran players made a simple calculation: Whatever happened with Ketel Marte, winning has to come first.
Aug 21, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll (7) celebrates with shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) after scoring a run against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro reported Sunday morning that five players, including Corbin Carroll, Geraldo Perdomo, Nolan Arenado, Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez, spoke with leadership about the situation. The discussion wasn’t about rehashing the controversy, but about whether the D-Backs could afford to let the situation overshadow the final month of their season.
The answer was clear.
“We’re going to welcome him, we’re going to try to win some ball games,” third baseman Nolan Arenado said, according to Piecoro.
Aug 29, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
Marte failed to report to Fenway Park on Aug. 17 and was subsequently placed on the restricted list. He was able to meet with general manager Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo later that week to discuss what happened, and was placed on the injured list due to a knee injury.
But inside the clubhouse, the focus appears to be shifting toward what comes next.
Marte is expected to return Monday, when Arizona opens a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Diamondbacks are sitting just outside the final Wild Card spot, making the margin for error increasingly thin.
“We’ve got a month left,” Arenado said. “We’re not in a playoff spot anymore, so there’s a lot of work to be done. I just think everybody’s focus should be on playing baseball. Whatever other stuff goes down, I don’t know, that should be dealt with after the season. For now, I think our focus should be on trying to get into a playoff spot and on baseball, period.”
Aug 26, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (57) throws against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
That urgency from the veterans is what fans should pay close attention to. It’s not just the team’s leadership hoping to move on. The clubhouse and some of the biggest names on the team are signaling that they want a path forward that includes Marte.
That may be easier said than done for fans. The situation has left many split on whether they should welcome Marte back in the same manner, while others still hold some resentment toward the All-Star for leaving the team in the middle of a postseason push.
Regardless of where supporters stand, the bigger story now is whether the rest of the team can separate frustration from performance and whether a talented clubhouse can rebuild trust while competing under pressure.
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ketel Marte (4) looks on from the dugout before they play the Washington Nationals at Chase Field in Phoenix on May 7, 2026. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Marte has apologized to Lovullo, though he has yet to publicly address his teammates or reporters.
Arizona’s veterans have made their choice: They are willing to put the drama behind them and see whether the talent that has made Marte so important can bolster their lineup and give them a chance to play in October.
In a private meeting, veteran Diamondbacks players discussed the Ketel Marte situation with manager Torey Lovullo and GM Mike Hazen. https://t.co/Vc5WQl9AUn
— azcentral (@azcentral) August 30, 2026
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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