If Reds are impatient, they'll trade promising youngster for quick fix, writes ESPN originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cincinnati Reds didn't watch Noelvi Marte struggle for too long.

After he began the 2026 MLB season 3-for-29, they sent him down to Triple-A.

Could the next step be to trade him? That's what ESPN's David Schoenfield speculates about in a new article.

Schoenfield wonders if impatience could bring the Reds to trade the young and talented Marte for a quick lineup fix.

"Marte began the season as the starting right fielder but went 3-for-29 and got a quick demotion back to Triple-A," Schoenfield wrote. "This could be a change-of-scenery situation, as the Reds might not have the patience or willingness to see if the talented Marte can put it together."

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The problem with the line of thinking the Reds could undertake is that it's not really about Marte.

If their MLB lineup was hitting, it'd be easier to be patient. But beyond the Sal Stewart show, it hasn't been a great start for the bats in Cincy.

Could Marte fetch an improvement? It's something Schoenfield thinks Cincinnati will consider.

"Aside from Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz, the Cincinnati offense has struggled, especially third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, who is testing the limits of how bad you can hit and remain in the lineup," Schoenfield writes. "The Reds can move Eugenio Suarez to third base, but they're not getting much production from any of their outfielders, either."

Suarez and Marte can both play third base, but the Reds have stuck with Hayes' glove over there.

Marte was converted to the outfield last season, though, and so seems likely to stay out there.

Will his next MLB action be in a Reds jersey or a different one? That'll be a big question hanging over Cincinnati as trade rumors pick up in the months ahead.

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