Battery mate offers Tyler Stephenson vote of confidence as Reds ponder major decision

The relationship between pitcher and catcher is a special one, and Nick Martinez has been around the sport of baseball for quite some time. So when Martinez speaks highly of last year's battery mate Tyler Stephenson, the Cincinnati Reds would be wise to listen.

"You have a homegrown catcher who I think they should extend," Martinez told MLB.com "He’s shown he can take charge of a full staff and still produce at a high level. That’s very rare."

The Reds have been waiting for Stephenson to put it all together, and the former first-round pick did exactly that in 2024. Regarded as a bat-first catcher since being drafted in 2015, Stephenson improved defensively as well and perhaps more importantly, stayed off the injured list. After an injury-riddled 2022 season, Stephenson has now played in 280 games over the past two seasons.

Nick Martinez offers Tyler Stephenson vote of confidence as Reds ponder major decision

Stephenson is entering the second year of his arbitration window, and the Reds need to seriously consider signing the 28-year-old to a contract extension. Cincinnati has no real options behind the dish coming up through the farm system, and offensive-minded catchers like Stephenson don't grow on trees.

Last season was arguably Stephenson's best. The Reds starting backstop hit .258/.338/.444 with 19 home runs and 66 RBI. Stephenson improved both his whiff rate and strikeout rate from 2023, and perhaps even more importantly, his framing behind the plate.

Stephenson earned $2.5 million in 2024 and is expected to more than double his salary through arbitration. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Stephenson is expected to take home $5.2 million in 2025. Outside of Jeimer Candelario and Hunter Greene, the Reds have no guaranteed contracts beyond the the 2025 season, meaning it's a perfect time to offer Stephenson a contract extension.

Last year's highest-paid catcher was J.T. Realmuto ($23.8 million), but he's a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award-winner, so Stephenson isn't going to hit that mark. But a four-year deal somewhere in the range of $8-$10 million per season should be enough to get a deal done.

The role of catcher is arguably the most important position on the diamond, and Stephenson's baseball acumen, leadership, and production warrant a long-term deal for the Reds' backstop. Get it done, Nick Krall.

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