If the Cincinnati Reds weren’t in the playoff picture right now and shooting for a Wild Card spot, it would make sense to keep Noelvi Marte at third base on a full-time basis. He still has a lot of upside, a third baseman is more valuable than a corner outfielder, and there are tweaks he can make to become a more reliable infield defender.
But the Reds aren’t playing the long game, so Marte will be rotating between third base and right field going forward. His new-found versatility gives Reds manager Terry Francona a chance to put a better all-around lineup on the field. He was so confident in the impact that Marte could make as an outfielder that Francona put him in right field following just a few between-game workouts.
Marte will continue to play some third base (like he did last night), but adding a new position is about giving the 2025 Reds a better shot to win. The move sends a signal similar to calling up Chase Burns as early as they did or cutting Jeimer Candelario and eating $22 million—ensuring the Reds can put their best team on the field.
The existential debate that all managers face is balancing development with winning. Rebuilding teams give prospects long runways, like the Reds did with Jose Barrero in 2022. At some point, teams start to hit the gas and make more aggressive decisions. Teams like the Dodgers and the Yankees seemingly are pushing all of their chips in every night, which can make the transition to the big leagues more difficult for young players.
The Reds’ long-term plan is to build from within and develop. “We’re trying to develop and win,” says Francona. “If you lose sight of that, for me, it’s wrong.” And yet moves like calling up Burns and giving Marte a chance in right field represent more aggressiveness from the organization.
Francona was showing that even before he put Marte in the outfield for the first time. Marte is still working on his throwing mechanics, but instead of giving him a very long leash to play through mistakes Francona has pulled him for defense on a semi-regular basis. Having the slick-fielding Santiago Espinal at third base gives the Reds a better chance in the final innings than Marte does in games where the Reds are leading.
When asked about the decision, General Manager Brad Meador showed that the Reds are looking at becoming even more aggressive. “I do think we have some flexibility because of the roster we have and our current players being able to play different positions,” he says. “If we could add, we have the flexibility to add in different spots rather saying, ‘We have to add a right fielder’ or ‘We have to add a first baseman.’ ”
Potential third basemen on the trading block include Eugenio Suárez and Ramon Urias. The Reds could also explore adding a right-handed corner outfield bat, but now the possibility of having Marte in that slot gives them Reds more options.
After the deadline, the next set of aggressive moves would be about in-season call-ups. In 2023, calling up Marte and Christian Encarnacion-Strand to fill part-time roles represented how much the Reds were trying to win then. While most prospects get more time to develop in Triple-A than they did, the Reds made sure to put their best players on the 26-man roster.
This year, the prospects to watch are third baseman Sal Stewart and outfielder Hector Rodriguez, both of whom were promoted to Triple-A last week. “They’re a part of what we’re going to be,” says Francona.
While it probably won’t happen in July, Stewart and Rodriguez have a chance to debut late in the season if they show continued progress. Meador says the Reds aren’t going to trade top prospects at the deadline, and Stewart and Rodriguez look like they have roles in the team’s short- and long-term plans.
Marte, still just 23 years old, is another key piece of the young core. His speed, strength, power, and smooth swing give him a strong combination of tools. He’s still taking the next step from a consistency perspective, but giving him a shot in the outfield is another sign the Reds see him as a player who can help them win now.
Charlie Goldsmith has covered the Reds and Bengals since 2020, and his newsletter on the teams can be found at charlieschalkboard.substack.com. He’s @CharlieG__ on X.
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