CHICAGO -- Not only did the Reds wind up standing pat for adding rotation help before Tuesday's Trade Deadline, they remained status-quo in not moving anybody off of their big league roster.

Utility player Nick Senzel was a potential trade chip for Cincinnati, but he remained with the club. With the rise of rookies like Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, regular playing time for Senzel has all but dried up.

Senzel met with manager David Bell, general manager Nick Krall and his agent, Scott Boras, in recent weeks to convey his feelings.

“We discussed behind closed doors that I wanted to play more, get more at-bats, get into more games," Senzel said. "Obviously, the role I’m in now, I wanted the opportunity to go play. I’m arb-3 [third-year arbitration eligible] next year. They understood that. If it was in the best interests and made sense for both parties, they were going to do something. It just didn’t happen.”

Senzel said he never requested the Reds to trade him.

“I didn’t ask. I expressed how I felt and heard where they were at," he said. "I have a good relationship with Nick and David. I wanted to see what their thoughts were. We kind of just went from there.”

Senzel, who was No. 2 overall pick by the Reds in the 2016 Draft, was the regular center fielder in 2022 and played a career-high 110 games after injuries marred each of his first three seasons.

A broken toe suffered in September required offseason surgery and delayed his start to this season until April 13. Especially as TJ Friedl took command of center field, Bell gradually integrated Senzel into more of a utility role, giving him opportunities at third base, second base, left field and right field. But as the rookies each arrived, he became more and more of a bench option.

Since Senzel returned from missing 10 games with a right knee injury on June 16, he's made only 13 starts and played in 28 games. On Wednesday vs. the Cubs, he made his first start at third base since June 25.

Entering the night, the 28-year-old Senzel was slashing .235/.311/.382 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs in 73 games. He's delivered in some big moments, too, with his three go-ahead RBIs after the eighth inning, tying him with Jake Fraley and Jonathan India.

Senzel has accepted his role and harbored no ill will.

“I feel good. Listen, I love being here. I love Cincinnati," Senzel said. "I told them and it’s not like a ‘screw you guys.’ My role has changed and I felt like my opportunities were getting few and far between. If there was an opportunity to get more playing time that made sense [a trade would have been made] -- they weren’t just going to give me away. I’m here. I want to be here and finish the year off. Then whatever happens in the offseason, happens in the offseason. It’s a special group here. I didn’t want to take anything from that. We’re trying to win a World Series and the division. That’s really it.”

Meanwhile, Senzel will continue to prepare himself for playing time when it comes.

"I just have to stay ready for those opportunities. If I stay ready, I won’t ever get blindsided," he said. "If I stay ready when those opportunities come, I will take advantage of them as best I can.”