The Reds are staring at a catcher problem that could shape their 2026 offseason. With Tyler Stephenson potentially on the way out, Cincinnati may have to treat the position as one of its top priorities - maybe the top one - when the market opens.
Stephenson is expected to be one of the best catchers available in free agency, with a multi-year deal in the range of $8-12 million per year. A return is still possible, but the kind of offer another club could put on the table might be more than the Reds can handle. If that happens, Jose Trevino would be the only catcher under contract for next season, which is why Cincinnati is going to have to be active.
One name to watch is Carson Kelly. The Cubs catcher is headed toward free agency after posting a career-high batting average, even though some of the rest of his offense slipped.
He hit .258/.336/.376 with 25 extra-base hits and 58 RBI. Kelly and Stephenson bring similar profiles, though Kelly grades out better as a framer while Stephenson offers more through his strike-zone judgment and ABS usage.
Kelly would need to turn down his $7.5 million mutual option with the Cubs to reach the market, and that’s widely expected to happen. If Cincinnati is looking for a cheaper path than re-signing Stephenson, Kelly fits the bill.
Projections point to a two-year deal with an average annual value of $6-8 million. That would put him in a more manageable range for the Reds.
The broader catcher market won’t be overflowing with easy answers. Ryan Jeffers, Kelly and Stephenson are the three biggest names expected to be available, and Jeffers is projected to command a major deal that likely pushes him beyond Cincinnati’s price range. That leaves the Reds with a choice: pay up for a starter, or shop a little more carefully and still land a veteran who can hold the position down.
Right now, the major-league catching group on the roster includes Jose Trevino, Will Banfield and PJ Higgins. The future is coming, but not immediately. Alfredo Duno is probably two years away, while Jirvin Morillo is even further back at three to four years from being big-league-ready.
That timeline matters because the Reds don’t need to lock themselves into a long-term commitment that stretches past three years. Duno is one of the top prospects in all of baseball, and his arrival should eventually change the picture. For now, Cincinnati could look for a veteran on a one- or two-year deal to bridge the gap and help guide the younger catcher.
Jonah Heim could fit that kind of short-term role. He wouldn’t bring the same value as Kelly or Stephenson, but if the Reds are staying focused on the near term, he could be among the more realistic options left.
In my opinion, catcher is the Reds' biggest need this offseason. Not making any moves at the trade deadline was not a good decision. Teams have a five-day window the day after the World Series ends to have exclusive discussions with departing free agents, with free agency beginning on the fifth day.
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