Thanksgiving deal for Taijuan Walker, Ketel Marte has Diamondbacks thankful

It was the day before Thanksgiving and Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo was pacing in the living room of his Southern California home, thinking about the upcoming season, thinking about his players, thinking about everything he had to do, when the phone rang.

General Manager Mike Hazen was calling. The Diamondbacks had a chance to acquire pitcher Taijuan Walker and infielder Ketel Marte from the Mariners for second baseman Jean Segura and outfielder Mitch Haniger, Hazen said.

What did Lovullo think?

“When it was talked about that both players [were involved] I thought it was a very exciting trade,” Lovullo said.

Ten months later, Lovullo – and the Diamondbacks – are even more enthused about the deal. Segura and Haniger have had good seasons in Seattle but Walker and Marte have been key figures in Arizona’s march toward the postseason.

Start with Marte, who was the secondary piece in the deal. Marte had a terrific rookie season in 2015, batting .283 in 219 at-bats. But he struggled last season, his offensive numbers dropping in every significant category. Walker, who has known Marte ever since he signed with the Mariners in 2010 as an international free agent, wasn’t surprised.

“He was only 22,” Walker said. “You’re going to struggle. Once people figure you out you have to adjust again and last year it took him a little while to adjust.”

But Walker also saw the natural physical skills Marte possesses.

“He’s just a special talent. He can do it all,” Walker said. “He can throw, run, hit, hit for power, hit for average, the total package. He’s just really young.”

Marte started this season in the minor leagues in part because Arizona already had Chris Owings and Nick Ahmed at shortstop but that depth disappeared in a three-day stretch in late July when Ahmed broke his hand and Owings fractured a finger. Enter Marte, who has become the everyday shortstop. He’s hitting .284, with career highs in on-base percentage (.366) and OPS (.804). He’s also hit everywhere from first to ninth in the lineup, and in defensive runs saved he’s gone from a below-average defender last year to a little above average this season.

“Think about what happened,” Lovullo said. “We lost two shortstops in a short period of time and we have Ketel Marte who can step in there and basically hold down the fort and hold his own. Without Ketel Marte we wouldn’t be where we are.”

The person least surprised by Marte’s success? Marte.

“I know what kind of player I am and what I can do,” he said.

In terms of wins and losses, Walker, who will start Tuesday against Colorado, has not had a superlative season. He’s 9-7 and he went nearly two months – a 10-start stretch – without a win. But that one statistic doesn’t begin to tell his story. His 3.33 ERA would rank tied for eighth in the National League if he pitched enough innings to qualify and he’s won his past three starts. He also had his season interrupted for three weeks when he went on the disabled list with blister issues, and before that, started four games in which he couldn’t throw his change-up – one of his best pitches – because of the blister.

“That kind of hurt a little bit,” Walker said. “But I made it work and then got through it.”

One of the best things about Walker, from the Diamondbacks’ perspective: He just turned 25. The chance to acquire a talented, young pitcher – even one who might not have lived up to expectations in Seattle – was so enticing Arizona was willing to give up Segura after his brilliant 2016 season and a promising young outfielder in Haniger.

“Taijuan was the No. 1 prospect in baseball,” Lovullo said. “He had a great fastball but the major leagues can humble you at times and I’m sure he thought things were going to be a little easier than they were. He hit some bumps in the road but he made those adjustments and I saw those adjustments taking place a little bit last year (when Lovullo was Boston’s bench coach).”

Walker said he was shocked when his agent called and told him he had been dealt to the Diamondbacks.

“It kind of came out of nowhere. I didn’t really expect to be traded,” he said.

Neither did Marte. But nearly a year later, the postseason beckons and their careers are back on track.

“It’s been fun for us,” Walker said. “We definitely can’t complain.”

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Tuesday’s game

Rockies at Diamondbacks

When: 6:40 p.m.

Where: Chase Field (Roof hotline: 602-462-6262).

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (9-7, 3.33) vs. Rockies RHP Jon Gray (7-4, 4.07).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KHOV-FM (105.1).

Walker has won his past three starts, allowing a combined two earned runs in 17 1/3 innings. … His ERA of 3.33 would be tied for eighth in the National League if he had pitched enough innings to qualify. … He shut out the Rockies over five innings on Sept. 1, striking out 10 to earn his eighth win of the season. … Gray is 3-2 with a 2.43 ERA over his past five starts. … He hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in a start since July 19.

Coming up

Wednesday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (13-12, 4.16) vs. Rockies RHP German Marquez (10-6, 4.27).

Thursday: At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (7-7, 3.18) vs. Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (1-2, 4.98).

Friday: At AT&T Park, 7:15 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (13-5, 2.81) vs. Giants (TBD).