NOELVI MARTE NEWS

Minor league stint possible Marte might be at risk of a minor league demotion to begin the season following the Gavin Lux acquisition, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact After a fantastic splash in the majors in 2023, Marte had a lost 2024 season, starting by getting hurt in Winter Ball and then serving an 80-game suspension for a positive PED test. Once he returned, he never got untracked offensively or defensively, hitting just .210/.248/.301 in 229 at-bats. With Lux on the team, the Reds have to find spots for Matt McLain, Jeimer Candelario and Christian Encarnacion-Strand in addition to Marte, and it doesn't make sense for Marte to ride the bench instead of playing regularly in the minors.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Logs one hit in loss Marte went 1-for-3 and was caught stealing in Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Cubs.

Impact Marte logged one of two hits for the Reds, whose bats have gone uber quiet over the final week of the season (league-low .137 average). Cincinnati's lost five straight, including three shutouts, and been outscored 17-3. Marte is doing his best to put behind him a disappointing season, which began with an 80-game suspension due to a PED violation. He's gone 13-for-48 (.271) with four walks, four RBI and three steals (caught twice) over the last 14 games.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Friday's lineup Marte is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Cubs.

Impact It will be a day off for Marte, who has now started 10 of the last 12 games for the Reds while bouncing between third base and designated hitter. The Reds are going with Santiago Espinal at the hot corner and Ty France at DH in the series opener.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Sunday Marte is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.

Impact Marte has been a regular part of the lineup lately between third base and DH, but he will sit for a tough matchup against right-hander Paul Skenes. Spencer Steer will serve as the designated hitter while Will Benson takes over in left field.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Helps in comeback win Marte went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's 6-5 win over Atlanta.

Impact Marte contributed to the Reds' comeback from a 5-1 deficit, when his sixth-inning double plated two (one came home on a throwing error). He then stole his ninth bag of the season. It's been a down year for Marte, who never developed any sustained success at the plate after serving an 80-game suspension, but he's in the midst of a hopeful stretch, going 7-for-25 (.280) with four RBI and three steals over the last seven contests.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Drives in two in win Marte went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 11-1 win over Minnesota.

Impact Marte, whose ground-rule double plated two during the Reds' nine-run fourth inning, entered the contest with just one RBI over the previous 13 games. Not much has gone right for him since returning from an 80-game suspension, and recently he's lost playing time to Santiago Espinal. Marte's played just seven of 13 games thus far in September.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Swipes two bags Marte went 1-for-2 with a walk and two stolen bases in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Cardinals.

Impact Marte's playing time has been sporadic in September -- this was his fifth game of the month. He's gone 3-for-15 (.200) in those contests while adding a 1:8 BB:K. Marte is up to eight steals on 10 attempts this year while slashing a meager .203/.239/.305 with four home runs, 15 RBI and 22 runs scored over 54 games. He got the start at designated hitter Wednesday, but that has typically been Amed Rosario's spot in the lineup versus right-handers in recent weeks.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Losing playing time to Espinal Marte is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Astros.

Impact Marte has now been absent from the Reds' lineup for two straight games and five times across the last eight contests. Santiago Espinal has been scorching hot since the All-Star break and is garnering another start at third base.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Absent from Cincinnati lineup Marte is not in the lineup for Monday's contest against the Astros.

Impact He's fallen into a bit of a timeshare at third base with Santiago Espinal, who will start at the hot corner Monday. Marte had started each of the previous three games while Espinal was banged up, but Espinal was in the lineup for the three contests prior to that.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out again in first game Marte is not in the lineup for the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Brewers.

Impact It's the third game in a row that Marte has been on the bench, although it seems likely that he'll be in the lineup for the nightcap Friday. Santiago Espinal will handle third base in Friday's matinee.

AUGUST 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Resting Thursday Marte isn't in the Reds' lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Impact Marte will sit down for a second consecutive game after going 7-for-21 with a homer and two RBI across his last six contests. While he rests, Santiago Espinal will start at third base with Will Benson manning right field.

AUGUST 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Taking seat Wednesday Marte is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics.

Impact Marte has struggled mightily at the plate overall since completing his 80-game suspension to begin the season and joining the Reds in late June, though his bat has been starting to come around lately. Over his last six contests, Marte has gone 7-for-21 with a home run and two stolen bases, bringing his batting average back to the Mendoza Line (.200) on the season. Despite the recent surge, Marte will cede his spot at third base to the even hotter-hitting Santiago Espinal, who has pushed his way into an everyday role for the Reds while seeing action at a number of different positions.

AUGUST 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Absent from lineup Marte is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against Pittsburgh.

Impact For the month of August, Marte is slashing .230/.242/.377 with seven runs scored, two home runs, five RBI and a 32.3 percent strikeout rate over 62 plate appearances. Santiago Espinal is starting at third base and batting eighth.

AUGUST 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Climbs to .200 Marte went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Thursday's 7-0 loss to Pittsburgh.

Impact Marte was one of only two Reds to get into scoring position, when he singled and stole second base in the eighth inning. The third baseman has steals in two consecutive games and six for the season. A silver lining to the dark cloud that's characterized Marte's season to date, he hit safely for a third straight game and saw his average creep up to .200.

AUGUST 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Records multiple hits again Marte went 2-for-4 with a home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 11-7 win over the Blue Jays.

Impact Marte launched his fourth home run of the season as part of a three-run sixth inning that gave the Reds breathing room. It was the second straight game in which he's recorded multiple hits and raised his average to .197, the highest its been since June 29. It's not saying much, but Marte's .632 OPS in August has been his best month since he was reinstated from an 80-game suspension in June.

AUGUST 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to lineup Tuesday Marte started at third base and went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Tuesday's 10-3 loss to Toronto.

Impact Marte tied the game in the second inning after the Blue Jays jumped to an early lead with a first-inning run. The third baseman returned to the lineup after sitting out the previous two games and has been replaced in three of the last six. The drop in playing time is the direct result of his struggles at the plate; Marte entered the game batting .181 over 40 games.

AUGUST 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Monday Marte is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.

Impact After starting in 13 of the Reds' previous 14 games, Marte is absent from the lineup for a second straight game. Santiago Espinal will bat ninth and play the hot corner Monday. Marte has two hits and eight strikeouts in his last 20 at-bats.

AUGUST 19, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Resting Tuesday Marte is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cardinals.

Impact After making 10 consecutive starts at third base, Marte will get the night off Tuesday. In his place, Santiago Espinal will play third and bat ninth. Marte is slashing .179/.218/.299 across 142 plate appearances this season.

AUGUST 13, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Two hits, two runs in win Marte went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored in Tuesday's 8-2 win over the Marlins.

Impact Marte's bat has woken up against Miami; the ninth-place batter has three hits, including a home run, in the first two games of the series. His multi-hit effort Tuesday was the third in 31 games and first since July 10. Marte will need to put together a consistent stretch to get back to the middle of the order, where he was projected to bat prior to his 80-game suspension and where he slotted upon his return.

AUGUST 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Goes yard in win Marte went 1-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in Monday's 10-3 win over the Marlins.

Impact Marte swatted a two-run homer in the fourth inning to give the Reds a 6-0 lead. It was his third home run of the season and first in 10 games. Marte, who entered the game with a .168 average, batted ninth for the second time in three games and has gradually moved down the order from the fifth spot when he first returned from an 80-game suspension in late June.

AUGUST 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to lineup Marte started at third base and went 0-for-3 in Saturday's 6-4 win over San Francisco.

Impact Marte, who was held out of the starting lineup the last two games, returned to action Saturday, but the bat remained problematic. He has just two hits over the last 19 at-bats and is batting .172 for the season.

AUGUST 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Friday's lineup Marte is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.

Impact It's the second straight game on the bench for Marte, who has a .177/.231/.281 slash line and 30.8 percent strikeout rate in 104 plate appearances since returning from his 80-game PED suspension in late June. Santiago Espinal will receive another start at third base Friday and could continue to cut into Marte's playing time after finishing July with a 1.184 OPS in 16 games.

AUGUST 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Moving to bench Wednesday Marte is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

Impact Now more than a month removed from returning to the Cincinnati lineup June 27 after completing his 80-game suspension to begin the season, Marte still has yet to get going at the plate. He enters Wednesday's contest with a .177/.223/.281 slash line and a 31.1 percent strikeout rate over 103 plate appearances. The Reds still seem committed to Marte as their everyday third baseman, but with the 22-year-old hitting the bench for the second time in the last four games, his leash may be getting shorter.

JULY 31, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Sunday's lineup Marte is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay.

Impact Marte started Cincinnati's first seven games of the second half but will sit Sunday after hitting .192 with a .592 OPS during that span. Santiago Espinal will receive a start at the hot corner in the series finale versus the Rays.

JULY 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Plates two in win Marte went 1-for-5 with a double and two RBI in Wednesday's 9-4 win over Atlanta.

Impact Marte joined the Reds' party with a two-run double in the fourth inning. The struggling third baseman, who is batting .181 since serving an 80-game suspension, has hit safely in four straight games (4-for-17).

JULY 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE