Reds seem close to defeat with big prize from Luis Castillo trade with Mariners
Truth be instructed, these are darkish days for former Mariners super-prospects. Jarred Kelenic could also be on the verge of crashing out of affiliated balland now Noelvi Marte is out of an on a regular basis job in Cincinnati.
As our friends over at Blog Red Machine coated, the strategy the Reds have taken to Marte’s taking part in time this season doesn’t exactly set him up for success. The righty swinger is in a proper discipline platoon with the lefty swinging Will Benson, and that is regardless that Marte solely has a .566 OPS towards lefties for his profession.
At a sure level, although, it’s on Mars to earn his maintain by making the most of what alternatives he does get. And to this finish, his 3-for-20 exhibiting this 12 months is merely the most recent variation on a theme. Through 747 main league plate appearances, he is a .251 hitter with a .685 OPS.
Noelvi Marte is again to letting the Reds down 4 years after Luis Castillo trade
Four years in the past, Marte’s inclusion within the trade that despatched Luis Castillo to Seattle is what made the deal a big danger for the Mariners. He had begun that 12 months as MLB Pipeline’s No. 11 prospect, and the Mariners’ No. 2 prospect behind the eventual AL Rookie of the Year, Julio Rodríguez.
Marte had a promising debut in 2023, however set himself again with an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing medication the next March. He appeared on the verge of turning things around last Mayalthough, and he was even hitting .300 with an .856 OPS as late as August 24.
Since then? He’s a .187 hitter with 49 strikeouts and simply eight walks over 37 video games.
It’s true that decreased taking part in time this 12 months is not doing him any favors, but it surely’s additionally not as if his alleged breakout final 12 months meant even larger issues to come. His under-the-hood metrics have been largely “meh.”
Given all this, there truly is ample reason for Reds fans to panic about Mars regardless of the small pattern measurement. And since he has two minor league choices left, the perfect factor for him could be a visit to Triple-A Louisville for normal at-bats.
For the Mariners’ half, that is to say that the Castillo trade is again to trying firmly within the win column for Jerry Dipoto and firm. He’s 33 years outdated now and not the staff’s ace, but he was precisely that by way of at the very least the tip of the 2023 season, and he stays a dependable supply of innings — and do not look now, however his common fastball velocity is up over final April.
Marte remains to be solely 24 years outdated, so it is means too quickly to write him off as a possible affect participant in MLB. But at this level, you actually do marvel if it is ever going to be in Cincinnati.
