Reds Facing Major Decision on Catcher's Contract

Tyler Stephenson's contract situation heats up as Reds have limited catching depth behind him

Mar. 19, 2026 at 1:07pm

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The Cincinnati Reds are facing a major decision on the future of catcher Tyler Stephenson, who is entering the final year of his contract. With limited catching depth behind Stephenson, the Reds must decide whether to extend him, trade him, or let him walk in free agency after the season.

Why it matters

Stephenson has been one of the Reds' most productive catchers in recent years, so losing him would be a significant blow to the team's offense and pitching staff. The Reds' catching situation is also uncertain beyond Stephenson, with only one other catcher on the roster who has significant MLB experience.

The details

The Reds went to arbitration with Stephenson over a $250,000 contract dispute, which Stephenson said was "better than what I was prepared for." In five seasons with the Reds, Stephenson has a .261 batting average, .764 OPS, and 63 home runs. The Reds have limited catching depth behind Stephenson, with Jose Trevino as the only other catcher with more than a handful of MLB games. The Reds' top catching prospects, Ryan McCrystal and Alfredo Duno, are still a few years away from the majors.

  • Stephenson is entering the final year of his contract in the 2026 season.
  • The Reds and Stephenson went to arbitration over a $250,000 contract dispute prior to the 2026 season.

The players

Tyler Stephenson

A productive catcher for the Cincinnati Reds, entering the final year of his contract in 2026.

Jose Trevino

The Reds' other catcher with significant MLB experience, going into his age 33 season in 2026 and under contract through 2027 with a club option for 2028.

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What they’re saying

“It was better than what I was prepared for. Everybody's got a different experience. I was prepared for worse. Maybe I was just thinking it was going to be worse in my mind. But it wasn't as bad as I thought.”

— Tyler Stephenson

What’s next

The Reds will have to decide whether to extend Stephenson, trade him, or let him walk in free agency after the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Reds' decision on Stephenson's future will have major implications for their offense and pitching staff, as he has been one of their most productive catchers in recent years. With limited catching depth behind him, the Reds must carefully weigh their options to ensure they don't lose a valuable asset for the long-term.