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In a shocking piece of news, Cincinnati Reds prospect Noelvi Marte has been hit with an 80-game suspension for a performance-enhancing drug violation. The 22-year-old is the No. 1 ranked Reds prospect, as per MLB Pipeline, but he will now miss the first half of the 2024 season.
Reds top prospect Noelvi Marte has received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance enhancing substance. pic.twitter.com/kVkgjC6NtC
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 8, 2024
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Projected as the Reds' primary third baseman for the 2024 season, Marte had a solid season in the minors before impressing in his MLB debut a season ago. It's a bitter piece of news for all involved as one of the better infield prospects in baseball won't be on the field for some time as the Reds, their fans, and fantasy managers alike are all disappointed by the news.
Let's dive into what the ban means for Marte's fantasy value as both dynasty and redraft managers mull over the surprising news.
Noelvi Marte Worth A Stash... In Dynasty Leagues
The Reds gave Marte a 35-game look in the 2023 season and he did not disappoint. The Dominican Republic native hit .316 with three home runs, six stolen bases, and an .822 OPS across the first 123 plate appearances of his big-league career. That was good enough for the Reds to give him everyday reps at the hot corner in the 2024 campaign, and rightfully so.
At the same time, redraft managers may want to think twice about stashing him for half of the season. He has played much older competition throughout his minor-league career but he hasn't put forth eye-popping power stats. That's not to say there isn't power in his young bat, but it could very well take some time for him to tap into it in the big leagues, even at Great American Ball Park, which is the No. 1 home run park in baseball, as per Statcast.
There is little doubt there is a nice combination of power and speed in his future, which is why dynasty managers absolutely need to stash Marte. Prior to his suspension, ATC projected 14 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 123 games for him in his age-22 season, along with a solid .267 average. Certainly, that is encouraging production for a player getting his feet wet in the big leagues.
Still, redraft managers need to proceed with caution. After all, how will a 22-year-old react to big league pitching mid-season after having not seen it since the spring? By the time he returns, he will not have seen regular-season pitching in the bigs in roughly nine months. There is a world where he scuffles upon his return and is sent to the minors for more seasoning. Keep in mind the club signed corner infielder Jeimer Candelario who is likely to take over third base in Marte's stead in a loaded Reds infield.
Dynasty league managers, have at it. Redraft managers would be wiser to use their bench spot more to their advantage in the 2024 campaign.
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