Mariners' red line in Ketel Marte trade talks puts new spin on risky experiment

Feb 23, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Seattle Mariners infielder Cole Young against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesRemember all that buzz about the Seattle Mariners and Ketel Marte? It peaked around December, but fizzled out well before the Arizona Diamondbacks took the All-Star second baseman off the market in January.

Now we know this is all Cole Young's fault, at least to the extent that his talent has the Mariners convinced that he's the future at second base.

This is one of many takeaways from a Monday report by Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. In it, he cites…