The Reds are sitting at 40-46, and that record puts them in a tough spot as the trade deadline nears. Unless they catch fire and rip off a major run over the next couple of weeks, they shouldn’t be acting like buyers. They need to be honest about where they stand and start thinking about how to get the most value out of players who may not be in the long-term picture.
That’s where Tyler Stephenson comes in.
Stephenson has been one of the hottest bats on the roster over the last month, hitting .352/.407/.537 with six extra-base hits in that span. For a catcher, that kind of production stands out even more. Offensive catchers are hard to find, and Stephenson is showing exactly why contenders are always looking for one.
That hot streak puts Cincinnati in a tricky but potentially profitable position. If the Reds want to sign Stephenson to an extension, then the decision is simple: keep him and build around him behind the plate.
If that’s not the plan, though, the front office has a real decision to make.
Alfredo Duno, the organization’s top-ranked prospect, is widely seen as the catcher of the future. But he’s still in Double-A after a recent promotion, and while his bat has continued to impress, his defense is still developing. There’s a path for him to reach the majors sometime next season, but nothing is locked in.
If Stephenson were moved before Duno is ready, Jose Trevino would likely step in as the starting catcher in 2027. Trevino brings value in other ways - he’s an excellent clubhouse presence and a strong game-caller - but he doesn’t offer the kind of offense Stephenson does. That’s the tradeoff Cincinnati has to sort through.
The bigger issue is timing. Stephenson is set to become a free agent after the season, and if the Reds don’t see an extension coming together, they can’t let that asset walk away for nothing. If they’re not planning to keep him, the deadline is the moment to act.
And the market could be there for them. Major League Baseball’s average OPS this season is .720, but only 13 qualified catchers have reached that mark or better.
Of those 13, eight are on teams with a .500 record or worse. That leaves contenders with very few productive offensive catchers to chase, which should make Stephenson especially appealing if Cincinnati puts him on the block.
If other teams are willing to pay up, the Reds need to listen.
In Other News...
Hunter Greene Just Raised The Stakes For Reds Postseason Hopes
Hunter Greenes return has been one of the biggest developments hanging over the Reds for weeks, and now it is finally close enough to shape the conversation around the rest of the season. After elbow surgery and a strong run of minor league rehab starts, the right-hander is set to rejoin a rotation that has already found a breakout arm in Chase Burns, giving Cincinnati a rare chance to line up two high-end starters at the same time.
Burns has been pitching like more than just a promising rookie, with performances that have pushed him into early Cy Young chatter and made him a central reason the Reds can even think about October. The bigger question now is less about whether Cincinnati has enough front-line stuff and more about how it balances the workload if both pitchers keep dealing and the club stays in the race deep into the summer. [Read more 🡒]
Chase Burns Is Becoming Everything The Reds Desperately Needed
Chase Burns keeps giving the Reds exactly what they have been searching for in the middle of a push that has needed stability as much as anything else. He was effective again in Cincinnatis 7-2 win over the Brewers, and his season now looks like the kind of breakout that changes the conversation around a young starter, with a 10-1 record and a 2.40 ERA across 17 starts.
The bigger picture around him is just as encouraging for Cincinnati. ESPNs Bradford Doolittle recently slotted Burns third among National League Cy Young candidates, and for now he stands as the leader of the Reds rotation while Hunter Greene is expected back soon and Nick Lodolo works to get his form right. For a club that has spent much of the year searching for dependable pitching, Burns has become the rare arm that makes the whole group look more settled. [Read more 🡒]