Will Noelvi Marte's impending return cause Reds to balk at trade deadline additions?

What can the Cincinnati Reds expect from Noelvi Marte upon his return from the 80-game PED suspension? The answer to that question may well dictate how Nick Krall and the Reds' front office approach the upcoming MLB trade deadline.

Marte has been underwhelming during his rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville, but after missing most of spring training, there was bound to be some hiccups. Reds fans saw how skilled the infielder was during his brief time in the majors last season. Marte even finished the 2023 season with a 16-game hitting streak.

If Marte is able to recapture the hot-hitting that made his a strong candidate to be the Reds' Opening Day third baseman before being popped with a suspension, Cincinnati may alter their trade deadline plans altogether.

Will Noelvi Marte's impending return cause Reds to balk at trade deadline additions?

Now, this may be a hard exercise for some fans, but try to think like the Reds front office and ownership. The Reds entered spring training with the intention of competing for a playoff spot with a roster filled with young talent. But, as fans know, Marte's suspension coupled with Matt McLain's injury took the wind out of Cincinnati's sails.

Throw in the injuries to Brandon Williamson, TJ Friedl, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and you can understand why the Reds have struggled to get above .500 this season. But there is optimism that McLain, Williamson, Friedl, and Encarnacion-Strand will all be back later this summer.

Will the impending return of those four players — plus Marte's reinstatement from his suspension — be enough to warrant the Reds' front office to remain rather dormant at the MLB trade deadline?

While many Reds fans would love to see the team be aggressive before the July 30th deadline, Krall and Co. may view Marte and the return of several injured players as enough moves to remain rather quiet next month.

Unpopular as it may be, Cincinnati is not good enough at the moment to justify making a major push at the trade deadline. If the standings flip and look more favorable as the end of July creeps closer, the mindset in the Reds' front office could change.

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