MLB News: Kristian Campbell, Ketel Marte sign contracts, Dodgers make playoff-focused trade

Two of baseball's brightest stars inked new extensions, while the Dodgers acquired a speedy threat for their bench.
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte and manager Torey Lovullo celebrate awards from the 2024 MLB season.
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte and manager Torey Lovullo celebrate awards from the 2024 MLB season. | Chris Coduto/GettyImages

The 2025 MLB season is a week old, but the hot stove continues to scorch like its the middle of winter.

The Boston Red Sox (Garrett Crochet) and San Diego Padres (Jackson Merrill) got their young stars locked down on extensions earlier this week. Now, the Red Sox are back at it again, while the Arizona Diamondbacks are joining their NL West brethren in the nine-figure extension club.

Beyond that, the flawless Los Angeles Dodgers made a move with the playoffs in mind. I remind you all that it's only April 3. They are as inevitable as they are annoying.

Red Sox-Campbell, Diamondbacks-Marte agree to long-term contracts

First off, the Red Sox finally completed their long-rumored extension with star rookie Kristian Campbell.

The second baseman received an eight-year deal similar to the one Jackson Chourio got from the Milwaukee Brewers last year. Though it's just five games of data, Campbell is batting .375/.500/.688 in 20 plate appearances.

After a hot start to his MLB career, he has now cemented himself as Boston's long-term answer at the keystone.

Following in Campbell's footsteps is Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks. After a third-place finish in NL MVP voting last year, Marte is far more established than Campbell, and as such, his agreement is worth $116.5 million over the next six years.

Last year's torrid finish was the second time in Marte's career that he ended the season top-five in MVP voting, also having done so in 2019. Marte has a career .815 OPS, including a .932 mark last year.

At 31 years old, this deal will take Marte through the remainder of his prime. He should remain a force in the middle of the Diamondbacks' lineup while surrounded by Corbin Carroll and Josh Naylor.

Dodgers acquire speedy Esteury Ruiz from Athletics

It's rare to see early season trades, mostly because teams tend not to know whether or not they'll be contenders in a given season until a fair bit of the schedule has passed.

Luckily, the Dodgers have no such concerns. They're clearly the World Series favorite, so it shouldn't be surprising to hear they swung a trade for a player with a niche skillset that will especially aid them come the postseason.

Esteury Ruiz made a name for himself during the 2023 season when he stole an AL-leading 67 bases in 80 attempts for the Oakland Athletics. His issue has never been about speed, but instead the limited opportunities he affords himself to use it. Ruiz has a career .297 OBP in nearly 600 plate appearances.

The Dodgers are optioning him to Triple-A in hopes they can help him retool his plate approach ahead of the playoff push. Even if he's nothing more than a Billy Hamilton clone, his pinch-running prowess could prove to be a huge asset for manager Dave Roberts in clutch situations.

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