Reds demote Noelvi Marte in move that could unlock their best lineup

The Cincinnati Reds' lineup has been struggling of late. More specifically, Noelvi Marte has been struggling. The Reds outfielder is hitting just .189/.229/.321 on the season, and since being recalled in early-June, has a 24.7% strikeout rate and 54wRC+. In short, Marte has really, really struggled this season.

On Tuesday, the Reds decided to send their scuffling outfielder back to the minor leagues for the second time this season. Marte was optioned back to Triple-A Louisville, and catcher Will Banfield was promoted to the active roster.

Banfield was added to the Reds' 40-man roster earlier this season. He spent some time with the club in 2025 and rejoined the organization on a minor-league deal this past winter. In 79 games with the Louisville Bats this season, Banfield hit a modest .262/.306/.425 with 11 home runs. But it's not necessarily his bat that will see more time in the Reds' starting lineup, it's Tyler Stephenson's.

Reds demote Noelvi Marte and give Tyler Stephenson a break behind the plate

Stephenson has been the Reds' hottest hitter since the All-Star break (.276/.368/.592 with six home runs, 15 RBI, and a 154 wRC+), but he's also spent a lot of time behind the plate this season. Cincinnati reporter Charlie Goldsmith recently wrote a column and revealed that Stephenson has now caught the second-most games (96) in all of baseball this season.

“I enjoy it. It’s definitely a lot. But the process and everything that goes into it behind the scenes to get my body right, I do everything I can. I don’t feel great every day, but that’s the nature of 162," Stephenson told Goldsmith.

With Banfield now on the roster, expect to see Stephenson log some time as the Reds' designated hitter once or twice a week. This could also mean more starts at third base for Eugenio Suárez, who's been Cincinnati's everyday DH after Nathaniel Lowe was traded to the Cleveland Guardians.

As for Marte, one has to wonder what his future in Cincinnati truly looks like. He's never been the same player who burst onto the scene in September of 2023, and with a raise through arbitration on the docket for 2027, there's a chance he could be non-tendered this offseason.

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