3 Tyler Stephenson trade packages the Reds can't afford to ignore

Tyler Stephenson's time as QB1 in Cincinnati may be coming to close. As the August 3 trade deadline nears, it's becoming more and more likely that Stephenson will be dealt. The Cincinnati Reds are said to be shopping players who are on expiring contracts, and Stephenson will be a free agent after the 2026 season.

Catchers can be quite the commodity at this time of year, and Stephenson has been heating up at the plate as well. Since July 1, he's hitting .333/.349/.548 with a 139 wRC+. His defensive skills behind the dish have consistently graded out well, and he's shown a knack for taking advantage of the new ABS system.

There are other backstops who might be available at the deadline, but both Ryan Jeffers (Minnesota Twins) and Hunter Goodman (Colorado Rockies) are said to be off limits. Several teams could be the market for catcher, but let's look at three trade proposals that could tempt the Reds' front office to make a deal.

3 Tyler Stephenson trade packages the Reds can't afford to ignore

Reds receive: Kyle Carr (LHP), Jace Avina (OF)
Yankees receive: Tyler Stephenson (C), Brock Burke (LHP)

The New York Yankees are known to be looking for an upgrade behind the dish. Austin Wells has been abysmal this season (.163/.263/.261), and Stephenson could help push the Bronx Bombers up the AL East standings as they look to return to the World Series.

Kyle Carr is currently with the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate and has a 4.37 ERA and a 26.6% strikeout rate in 16 appearances. Jace Avina is having a breakout season at Double-A Somerset. The 23-year-old is hitting .264/.349/.524 with 17 home runs and a 131 wRC+.

Carr and Avina are Rule 5 eligible this winter, so New York may be looking to get some value for them at the deadline rather than add both to the 40-man roster. The Reds might have to add a reliever like Brock Burke to the equation in order to seal the deal.

Reds receive: James Tibbs III (OF)
Dodgers receive: Tyler Stephenson (C), Jose Franco (RHP)

The Los Angeles Dodgers have an All-Star catcher in Will Smith, but he's on the injured list at the moment, and many wonder if he'll return at all this season. Second-year catcher Dalton Rushing has had an up and down year in LA, and has found more fame for his off-the-wall antics rather than his play on the field.

One area of the roster the Reds front office has failed to address for years has been the outfield. Jame Tibbs III is one of the Dodgers' best young bats, but Los Angeles has a surplus of outfield talent. To give you an idea of how deep the Dodgers farm system really is, LA has five other outfield prospects ranked ahead of Tibbs.

If the Dodgers are looking for a stopgap, Stephenson could be the perfect solution. But if Cincinnati set their sights on a player like Tibbs, it'll cost more than just Stephenson. A controllable reliever like José Franco might be enough to push LA to make a deal, though it may require a little more if Tibbs is their No. 1 choice.

Reds receive: Eduardo Rivera (LHP)
Red Sox receive: Tyler Stephenson (C)

The Boston Red Sox have surprised the entire baseball world. After winning 15 straight games, Boston is right back in the thick of the AL Wild Card race. The Red Sox are reportedly searching for a catcher at this year's trade deadline, and Stephenson would seem like a good fit in Beantown.

At 6-foot-7, Eduardo Rivera has quite the imposing stature on the mound. A hard-throwing lefty, Rivera's fastball sits in the mid-90s, though he's been up to 98 mph on the radar gun. He possesses a wipeout slider, and his repertoire includes a changeup as well.

Rivera is currently in Triple-A, though he made his MLB debut earlier this year. A starter in the minor leagues, he's viewed more likely as a reliever at the big-league level. But if Cincy is looking to offload Burke, Caleb Ferguson, and maybe even Sam Moll at this year's deadline, it would behoove them to bring back a serviceable southpaw.

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