The Cincinnati Reds made a set of roster moves on Tuesday afternoon as they get ready for game three of their series at Great American Ball Park against their division rivals the St. Louis Cardinals. Cincinnati called up catcher Will Banfield from Triple-A and optioned outfielder Noelvi Marte to Louisville.
After having somewhat of a bounceback season in 2025, the 2026 campaign has gone about as poorly as one could imagine. Noelvi Marte made the team out of spring training, but he hit just .138/.194/.138 in the first 11 games of the season. Just two weeks into the season the Reds optioned Marte back to Triple-A.
While there he seemed to do a whole lot of hitting. For 40 games with the Bats he hit .369/.409/.575. He was showing a high average, hitting for a lot of power, and he was making a lot of contact. Cincinnati called him back up in early June and he’s been with the big league club ever since. His hot-hitting in Louisville didn’t come back up with him, though. Over the 52 games since he was recalled, Marte hit just .199. He only walked eight times and that led to an abysmal on-base percentage of .235. He hit six home runs and added in seven doubles, but that was only good enough for a .354 slugging percentage.
On top of not being able to hit this season, Marte hasn’t exactly been known for his glove, either. While he had one of the highlights of 2025’s season when he made a game-winning home run robbery that resulted in a bobblehead of the event in April with the Reds, he’s been a below-average to poor defender in right field.
In desperate need of some offense, Cincinnati has called up Will Banfield. As the third catcher on the roster who only plays catcher how he will be used isn’t quite known yet. But it’s possible, and even plausible that it will lead to Tyler Stephenson getting fewer games behind the plate and more time as the designated hitter. Stephenson has been a workhorse behind the plate and could probably use a little extra rest – something that being the designated hitter could help with.
As for Banfield himself, he’s held his own in Louisville at the plate. He’s hit for a higher average than he’s hit for in the past, but his overall line of .262/.306/.426 doesn’t stand out much and is actually below the league average this season in the International League where the average hitter has hit .254/.346/.419 this year (a 34 point OPS advantage over Banfield). Among Bats players this year with at least 100 plate appearances Banfield’s .732 OPS would rank 10th.
I was a big Marte supporter but he just wasn’t getting the job done. This move should keep Stephenson in the line up all the time and that is a good thing.
Interesting moves, full disclosure. I have never really been a Marte fan.
Keep TJ because he is better defensively?
Tyler is swinging a good bat right now.
Lol keep tj because he’s a better defender.
A guy that’s 0- 22 he’s freaking horrible.
Your just like the ownership and front office absolutely clueless
You’re*.
No need for insults.
Ant, you’ve gotta chill out with the abrasiveness and the insults. You can disagree with others without doing things like this. If you keep it up you will be getting a break from commenting on the site.
“On top of not being able to hit this season, Marte hasn’t exactly been known for his glove, either.”
That’s for sure. For those who like to use WAR he’s dead last on the Reds and dead last in all of the majors at -1.4 if I’m looking at it correctly
Toglia OF and Stephenson 1B or DH someimes.
I’m not sure but as I recall T.S. didn’t look very good at 1B the few times he played there.
Tyler is “turrible” at 1B. Catch or DH.
Sir Charles!
“But it’s possible, and even plausible that it will lead to Tyler Stephenson getting fewer games behind the plate and more time as the designated hitter.”
Let’s hope so. He’s one of the very few consistent hitters we’ve got.
So in a 3 game series, Stephenson would catch 1 game and DH 2 games, something like that? Sounds good to me.
Does seem to put Tyler at DH more often while still catching some. Also probably means more of Geno at 3B and KBH as a late-inning replacement.
Let’s see how it plays out. August is brutal … even worse for the primary MLB catcher.
Stephenson catching hitting 5th. KBH back at 3B tonight.
I’m not sure about 3 catchers, but Marte needed to go down. I think it’s time to move on from Marte.
I think the Reds may hold on to him partly out of fear if they let him go for nothing and he goes to another team and starts to hit decently, somewhat like CES, it’ll look really bad on the Reds front office, organization.
Does this mean Rodriguez starts most nights in Right now, or will they play Toglia? I think the Reds themselves don’t really have a solid plan. I guess it’s up to Tito.
I wonder if the Reds are thinking in the back of their minds that Banfield could be part of a platoon with Trevino next year as I don’t believe Stephenson will come back
I read this on Google AI about Banfield… “Will Banfield is widely regarded as an elite defensive catcher, with his glove and work behind the plate considered his primary calling card and major league-ready tools.”
If you could replace Stephenson with a Catcher that is better Defensively than Stephenson, and then improve Offensively say at 3B and Right Field going into 2027, you could offset Stephenson’s Offensive loss. Also a bridge year before Duno starts in 2028. I think this may be the plan in the Reds mind.
Yes, I think you are probably correct. The Reds want to see what Banfield can do with his bat in the Majors. If he can’t hit at all, then they know they have to go out and get someone else. Plus, he gets a chance to catch some ML pitchers.
Also, this allows Stephenson to DH on his off days from catching, and then if either Trevino or Banfield get hurt or they want to pinch hit for them, there is the other catcher present.
Hector plays RF until he doesn’t. I don’t know about Toglia out there, but they are going to look at that, too. Jay Allen II just got moved up to AAA from AA, so there is another outfield guy that will get a good look next Spring. Don’t know if Dunn will be back and ready to play, either.
Give Marte a chance to play again, every day at AAA, and get his timing back. But the Reds may be about done with him, anyways.
Will Benson is hitting all of .202 at AAA too. Moving on.
I’ve been calling for QB1 to start more “off day” games and this will allow it at DH. It looks like Toglia has shown enough to be trusted in outfield. Hector will get enough rope to prove his bat while probably splitting time with Myers in CF, Toglia in LF, Bleday in RF, Suarez at DH when SteveO catches but at 3B otherwise, Stewart at 1B. Missing SteveO’s bat 2 of every 5 games in a lineup as challenged as this one was criminal. Still, we have to see decent production from HecRod and Toglia, but so far, I don’t have a pit in my stomach when they are at bat. Sure would be nice to get Steer back soon.
Stephenson has now caught the second-most games (96) in all of baseball this season.
Stephenson is on pace to catch 124 games this season. Since the start of the 2021 season, just 11 catchers have been behind the plate for at least 124 games in a single season (one of them was Stephenson in 2024).
I don’t understand playing Hayes = automatic out, should put Toglia at first and Sal at third, makes no sense.
Picky, picky, picky! 🙂
Yeah, they never call me for advice anymore either. 🙂
And yet Matt McLain still getting regular playing time with that sterling .195/.293/.345 split. Looking up and down this line up with numbers like that, at what point does Valaika get the axe. He clearly is not getting the job done.
I’m not defending McLain or even rebutting your comments, just seems like a good place to drop this.
McLain was the 17th overall pick in the 2021 draft. I did some research using Grok on the history of the 17th overall pick.
Two standouts – Halliday and Hamels, both over 60 career WAR.
Top-3 position players? Gary Matthew’s at 30 WAR, then AJ Pollock at 22 and Jeremy Burnitz at 20.
The overall average WAR for a position player taken at 17th overall? That would be a big, fat 6.
When it’s all said and done for McLain’s career, it’s a good bet he’ll over perform his draft position.
“Sarge” was a great player
Can Grok lay off the breaking pitch out of the zone?
I don’t know how that is relevant. Corey Seager was drafted 18th and Pete Crow Armstrong 19th, should they be worse than McLain based on that? He just isn’t good and the Reds hitting coach doesn’t seem to be helping him or anyone else on the team.
Marte is giving me Jose Barrero vibes.
Comes up and does decent enough that you get excited about him. Then just suddenly, inexplicably… Can’t do it any more.
I had high hopes for Marte, but he’s been given a fair chance. He’s going to turn 25 in 2 months, so he’s really too old to be considered a “prospect” any more. I hate to give up on him, because he showed brief flashes of real talent, but then again so did Barrero, CES, Hinds, and McLain, and look at them all now.
So now it’s up to Arroyo to redeem to Luis Castillo trade.
And, as an aside… I find it incredible that the Reds have failed to develop ANY young hitters in the last half-decade besides Sal and EDLC (and even then, there’s still the feeling that EDLC hasn’t really lived up to the full potential of his vast talent).
You would think just by the law of averages, at least ONE of these hot young prospects they acquired in trades would actually live up to their ceiling. Other teams seem to be able to do it. Why can’t the Reds?
Is it bad luck… Or is there something deeper going on at the organizational level?
OK, I’ll try this. Maybe it’s because the Reds don’t know how to help guys become the best versions of their natural selves? I’m sure typing that is a zillion times harder than going out and doing it. However, the guys helping them are supposed to be top guys in their profession, and other teams seem to find a way.
Oops…. “I’m sure typing that is a zillion times EASIER than going out and doing it.”
And now you see why I haven’t been writing as much here and have changed my avatar to the Scarecrow. Some days my brain just isn’t what it once was, but it doesn’t always let me know in real time. 😉
I have no clue either but if its one size fits all and all are expected to buy in then just not sure they ever will or ever can.I know nothing about hitting but I would expect players to attack up to getting two strikes and then just put the ball in play.I see way too much of never swinging or never stop swinging by our hitters.Would love to know what Geno thinks of this oppo approach at any time during an at bat.Probably would see that big smile of his get even bigger.
Totally agree Jim. I’m hoping Marte gets traded and gets away from this organization and gets a fresh start. Good luck to HRod. Keep failing and they will jerk him around as well. Hitters can’t get better on the bench or playing here and there. It was a disaster from the beginning when Tito gave Benson a spot on the team and playing ahead of Marte. Benson is AAA material that will never amount to a major league player. He can’t even hit in AAA where everybody hits but he was Tito’s boy. I hope CES does great and anybody else this crackpot organization deems worthless. They need a total rehaul in this organization from the top down. Go Reds
CES seems to be doing pretty well in Baltimore
Marte didn’t hustle on a fly ball to the outfield yesterday, and let McLain attempt to take it. That didn’t work out, and Cowboy was criticizing Marte on the radio broadcast.
I saw McLain racing in, calling for it, and Marte hold up. McLain should’ve never tried for it. But that’s me.
I wish Marte had had half the chance McLain has had. McLain is a slightly above average fielder who can only hit his weight because he’s short. Maybe Marte is equally mediocre, but he never got a chance to definitively prove it.
Now I wish for Marte to get a fresh start with another program, one that can develop players. He’s still young.
I agree. If Marte kept going he would have bulldozed McLain.
McClain is a lot better than an “above average fielder”
I saw that too, the ball McClain dropped in the first game of the doubleheader should have been caught by him. I just don’t understand the guy.
Then today Tito said Marte has all the tools to be a great player, but needs to be the first person on the field, not the last. Yikes.
Yeah. That says A LOT as to why he’s been in the “doghouse”.
I hadn’t heard that, but that’s quite the statement.
This is the quote I read,
“We asked him how he thought it was going,” Francona said. “He said, ‘Not very well.’ I said, ‘This is kind of a pivotal time for you. Don’t just go down — he’s probably going to find ways to get hits in Triple-A. You’ve got to play with some urgency and get after it.’”
Francona offered a few specific ways to do that.
“Be the first one out there, don’t be the last one out there,” Francona said. “Take charge in the outfield. Things like that.”
I agree with what you say about Elly, he is a good to very good but not a generational hitter yet = consistency and clutch, last night helped. I want to stress yet he may become one at any time.
The best players aren’t necessarily the most clutch on their teams. I think Aaron Judge has really struggled in the playoffs, and with the Dodgers I think I’d rather have Freddie Freeman up in the 7th game of the World Series with the game on the line than Ohtani. I think Ohtani has struggled a bit in the big moments over the years.
Even Lebron James, if I remember correctly earlier in his career, was kind of known for passing on taking the big shot, not being very clutch.
I think De La Cruz isn’t the most clutch hitter, but will get better with experience and age. Some players have more of a natural clutch gene I think, while some can grow into it. Some though, just never are very clutch hitters/players in their careers.
I think he needs to grow in consistency, and on Defensive focus.
I think if he plays 3 more full years in Cincy, he’ll have at least one great MVP type of year. I also think though if he went to a really good team in 2027, 2028, surrounded by Offensive talent, he may take off right away towards MVP level type of play.
Ohtani was pretty good with the Angels, but I think being around all that talent with the Dodgers, and the higher expectations the Dodgers have, elevated his game to another level.
I agree with everything you said, his best days are ahead. Hopefully 27, 28 and 29.
Per Mlb.com:
“Daniil Medvedev has thrown us all for a loop with his love of — and, apparently, his encyclopedic knowledge about — the Reds, of all teams.
Medvedev, who’s currently ranked the No. 7 men’s tennis player in the world, attended his first-ever baseball game last year at Great American Ball Park, after an early-round exit from the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament.
He’s been a Reds fan ever since.
“I was like, ‘Why haven’t I gone before?'” Medvedev told the Cincinnati Enquirer last week. “I started watching baseball more than any other sport, except tennis. Since they were the first team I saw live, why not be a Cincinnati Reds fan?”
Tyler will get some at bats as DH and maybe less time behind the plate.Probably see more of Geno at third.Good way for Reds fans to see more of both in their last season with the club.Sure we need Tyler’s bat more with Steer out and with that other guys bat we traded missing as well but its no great strategic move as I see it. Get to see Toglia and Hrod I would guess.Friedl still here and Marte down just says what we already know about both.
This, on the same day Austen Wynns was outrighted. The odd, weird, strange irony of baseball.
Oops DFA’d
Austin Wynns, great guy, but almost 36 years old (that’s REAALLY old as a catcher). He was batting all of .146 this season.
Pass.
You miss the point. The last time we ran with three catchers, the third guy was Wynns. We just added a third catcher on the day Wynns was DFA’d is the irony.
Come on David! Veteran Salvador Perez (Royals) is 36 years old and has 16 HRs and 54 RBIs! There’s always hope for the experienced players.
I saw McLain racing in, calling for it, and Marte hold up. McLain should’ve never tried for it. But that’s me.
I wish Marte had had half the chance McLain has had. McLain is a slightly above average fielder who can only hit his weight because he’s short. Maybe Marte is equally mediocre, but he never got a chance to definitively prove it.
Now I wish for Marte to get a fresh start with another program, one that can develop players. He’s still young.
As an infielder you are taught to go for it until you are called off. The outfield has the authority over the infield on a ball in the outfield. That is little league 101. Marte was timid in his approach instead of going and getting it.
I think you are confusing not getting chance to not performing offensively or on defense or base paths. McLain at least brings some value in two of those areas.
Just do not get front office thinking on pitching moves. McCambley Brought up as extra double header player. Emmanual DFa and Maxwell up today. If Maxwell is the best option today, then why yesterday? Why not Maxwell yesterday and just make the move official for 26-man today. Makes no sense.
Let’s hope Kent Emanuel stays with Louisville Bats and we get to see him start again soon, He was the ACC player of the year. In his two seasons with the High Point Rockers, 2025 and 2026, Emanuel was 10-1 in 19 starts with a 2.91 ERA. He won his one start in Louisville on Aug 9th against St. Paul.
Watching Tito tonight his hat has been coming off a lot. That’s not a good sign that he’s happy with what’s going on.
Can’t imagine any scenario where he would be happy either what is going on.
Not sure Francona is without blame in this situation. It’s time to end the googly gee comments he makes and start kicking some butt.
Marte richly deserves to be sent down on performance. What is sad is that you could have sent 6 other Reds down with him for the same reason. Horrible lineup.
Per Marte’, I mean, you know, if hitters are inexplicably bad, don’t you have to wonder if part of it is coaching? And if a whole team constantly comes up swinging for the fences with a runner on third when you’re really just looking for solid contact, don’t you maybe, sort of, wonder why the hitting coach doesn’t address that? I don’t know, I don’t claim to be a Major League hitting coach myself. Just wondering.