Questions abounded Monday when the Arizona Diamondbacks put one of their best players on the restricted list.
The Diamondbacks announced shortly before Monday’s tilt against the Boston Red Sox that they were placing Marte on the restricted list. News of the decision came just minutes before the start of the contest at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass.
The team made an official announcement via social media, indicating that they were also recalling infielder Jose Fernandez from Triple-A Reno.
We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/QyF6cZdrpd
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 17, 2026
MLB teams place players on the restricted list for non-baseball matters such as an unexcused personal absence, legal issues, or a temporary retirement, meaning Marte’s placement on the list was no mere injury designation.
Diamondbacks beat reporter Nick Piecoro revealed Monday that Marte did not show up at Fenway Park despite the team fully expecting him to be there. Marte had reportedly flown to Boston with the team, but failed to appear at the stadium for the opener of Arizona’s three-game road series.
Per the report, the D-Backs held out hope that Marte would arrive up until shortly before the game’s start time. He was expected to serve as the team’s designated hitter. The exact reasons surrounding Marte’s absence remain unclear.
Marte has had a down season thus far after back-to-back All-Star campaigns in 2024 and 2025. He has batted .249 with a .760 OPS across 118 games this season with a team-best 21 home runs.
The Diamondbacks’ second-best home run hitter, Nolan Arenado, was also absent from Monday’s contest due to an unusual injury that had fans cracking jokes at his expense.
