Ketel Marte has a chance to finally clear the air and personally address his Arizona Diamondbacks teammates and coaches before the team opens a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field on Monday, Aug. 31.
More than anything, it's a chance to apologize — again — for going AWOL on the Diamondbacks and missing another game without the team’s knowledge or consent.
It’s happened on at least three occasions during the past four seasons, and his most recent absence, on Aug. 17 for a game in Boston against the Red Sox after complaining of knee soreness, must happen no more.
Assuming he says his piece and attempts to make peace with his teammates, it’s time for these distractions involving Marte to come to an end, and now it's
time to move forward in unison as the Diamondbacks try to nail down a wild-card spot in the National League.
That’s the path the team has apparently decided to take, judging from the outcome of a recent private meeting among a handful of veteran players, manager Torey Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen, according to The Arizona Republic.
The Diamondbacks are only concerned about making the playoffs and, for now at least, they appear to be ready to embrace Marte’s return after the All-Star second baseman's stint on both the restricted and injured list.
If Marte can help them get there, as he did during Arizona’s run to the World Series in 2023, he might be able to find his redemption. If not, there’s no telling how his future might play out with the Diamondbacks -- and his place in franchise history is troublesome now regardless.
(This story will updated. Check back soon.)
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How Ketel Marte's words and actions affect the Diamondbacks | Opinion
