Tyler Stephenson's disappointing 2023 season presents the Reds with problems moving forward

Tyler Stephenson was supposed to be one of the key pieces of a Cincinnati Reds squad that would look to rule the National League Central for years to come.

Stephenson was going to be that steady presence behind the plate along with a crop of young, dynamic infielders like Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain, coupled with a talented group of starters like Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo that would help push the Reds to new heights.

But that script may need to be severely edited. While De La Cruz, McLain, and others look to be fixtures in the lineup for the foreseeable future, Stephenson has fallen on hard times this season. Without any help on the horizon in the minor leagues, how will the Reds handle the catcher's spot moving forward?

The Reds farm system offers no viable options to replace Tyler Stephenson.

First, let's abandon the idea that any catcher in the Cincinnati Reds farm system is remotely ready to take up the mantle and become the team's everyday catcher in 2024. Yes, Chuckie Robinson is a good story, but he's a backup catcher at best.

The Reds have spent several high draft picks on backstops in recent years, but none of them are ready for The Show. Logan Tanner, Matheu Nelson, Alfredo Duno, and others are lightyears away from making their major league debut.

That puts the Reds in a bit of pickle. Tyler Stephenson is under team control for three more seasons, but his .240/.325/.351 slash line is concerning. Prior to this season, Stephenson was hitting .296/.369/.454. Furthermore, Stephenson's defense has not been good.

Coaches and fans can typically forgive a below-average bat behind the plate if a catcher provides an above-average glove. That's not the case with Stephenson. According to Baseball Savant, Stephenson's framing is among the worst in baseball. The same holds true for defensive runs saved. According to Fielding Bible, Stephenson is worth -5 DRS this season.

The Reds could entertain the idea of trading for a catcher to replace Tyler Stephenson.

Might the Cincinnati Reds inquire about a trade? Sure. The Arizona Diamondbacks traded from a position of strength this past offseason in order to acquire Gabriel Moreno from the Toronto Blue Jays. The Washington Nationals acquired Keibert Ruiz a couple years ago from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With Shea Langeliers behind the plate in Oakland, perhaps the A's would part ways with Tyler Stoderstrom. The former first-round pick is among the catching prospects in baseball according to MLB Pipeline.

But if the Reds go that route, then they're basically giving up on Tyler Stephenson after one subpar season. Not only that, but Stephenson underwent major surgery last year, and that could very well be the cause of his downward turn in production.

Adding a catcher to replace Stephenson would almost assuredly mean that the Reds would need to trade the former first-round pick. They'd then be receiving pennies on the dollar, as Stephenson's value has likely never been lower.

Reds Country should probably expect to see the Cincinnati Reds run it back in 2024 with the combination of Tyler Stephenson and Luke Maile behind the plate. It wouldn't be a shock if Curt Casali is retained either.

At the very least, Cincinnati could pick up Casali's option and trade him during the offseason to a team in need of a veteran backstop. Reds fans know all too well, after burning through seven catchers in 2022, that those types of players are always in demand.