PHOENIX -- Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo walked a fine line Friday trying to address the Ketel Marte situation that has engulfed his team over the past week, while not wanting to share details that both sides wished to keep private.
"I thought it was a very productive meeting, and that's as far as I want to go with that," Lovullo said. "We were able to, you know, say things that we needed to say to one another, and we are going to turn the page on this as quickly as possible and get Ketel back in a healthy frame of mind from a physical standpoint, and allow him to go out and help us win baseball games here in Arizona as soon as possible."
Lovullo spoke before Friday night’s 9-0 win over the Reds, Arizona’s second straight victory.
Lovullo’s comments were similar to what GM Mike Hazen said following the meeting between Hazen, Lovullo, Marte and Marte's agent, which took place Thursday and lasted a few hours.
Marte did not show up to Fenway Park on Monday night, and was placed on the restricted list.
No one at the time seemed to have any idea what the issue was -- not Lovullo, the front office or Marte's teammates. Apparently, Hazen and Lovullo learned the reason in the meeting, but a number of players in the clubhouse did not know as of Friday.
When asked if he could provide insight as to what Marte's issue was, Lovullo said, "Maybe a little bit of frustration built around the injury at some point. I'm hopeful he'll be able to explain that directly to you guys."
Marte had an MRI taken of his left knee Thursday that showed some inflammation, and he was given an injection and transferred from the restricted list to the injured list.
"Ketel will begin his rehab process over at Salt River Fields starting today, and my hope is to get one of our best players back on the field in 11 days to help us in the final push for 20-plus games," Lovullo said.
One thing that did come out of the meeting, according to Lovullo, was an acknowledgement that the situation could have been handled in a better way, rather than just not showing up and not communicating with anyone.
"There's right ways to handle things and wrong ways to handle things," Lovullo said. "And I think the conclusion that was drawn up yesterday is that we could have been better, and Ketel could have been better, specifically, and admittedly so. I want to manage baseball games. I want to do what I love doing between the white lines and not have to answer these types of questions. And I'm respectful because I know you guys have to ask these questions, and I don't want to sound rude or condescending by my messaging, but I don't love the drama that follows this ball club."
The timing of all this is less than ideal with the Diamondbacks fighting for an NL Wild Card spot. Marte's teammates were left in the dark as to the reason for his absence, and were left to answer questions about it.
To a man, when asked, they expressed concern first and foremost for Marte's well-being. But at some point when he returns, he will need to provide some more clarity for them.
"I think it'd be nice to hear it, for sure," reliever Kevin Ginkel said. "You know, I think a lot of players are kind of frustrated with how it just happened. But I think, first and foremost, it's him getting his knee right and mentally being in a good place where he can come back and help contribute and stuff."
Lovullo and Marte have long had a close relationship. Lovullo was one of the big reasons Marte cited in his decision to sign a contract extension with the Diamondbacks in April 2025. The last week has taken its toll on Lovullo, who teared up when talking about it after the game Monday night.
"I was hurting," Lovullo said. "I was clearly hurting, and once I saw what was unfolding, I became extremely frustrated. I felt betrayed, and that's a whole different type of pain and frustration. But I'm through that."
The next challenge will come when Marte rejoins the team, but for now the Diamondbacks simply want to return the focus back to the field.