Starling Marte rumors: Don’t expect a reunion with the Miami Marlins

Starling Marte will be one of Major League Baseball’s most sought-after free agents this offseason, with plenty of teams hoping to acquire the skills that saw him produce a .310/.383/.458 slash line in 120 games between the Miami Marlins and Oakland A’s in 2021.

Yes, the 33-year-old Marte split his time between two teams last season, with the Oakland A’s acquiring him just before the trade deadline in exchange for pitcher Jesús Luzardo. Now, heading into the 2022 season, the rumors are swirling that the Marlins are hoping to have Marte back in the fold.

Here’s why the Starling Marte rumors connecting him with the Miami Marlins don’t make sense

While Miami would love to have the former All-Star and Gold Glove winner back in their clubhouse, the Marlins will be battling plenty of other teams that have already been connected to Marte and are willing to pay the price that he will likely demand in free agency. In his predictions for contracts, Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required) estimates Marte will sign a four-year deal worth $104 million. Among the teams reported to be in the mix for that deal are the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants.

Those are all teams that not only have the resources to sign Marte, but also have a much better chance of winning a championship than the Marlins. A four-year deal would take Marte into his 37-year-old season, so the time left to chase a World Series ring is a factor in his upcoming decision as well.

As Heyman says in his tweet, it’s unusual for a team that traded a player to bring that player back. Marte won’t be that player because, while the Marlins may be a fit, they’re not as an ideal of a fit as some of the other options that will be available.