Reds agree to baffling contract extension with Jose Trevino in surprise move

This was supposed to be the time of year that the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a contract extension with Tyler Stephenson. But instead, the Reds agreed to an extension with another catcher. According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Reds and Jose Trevino have agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension.

Heyman is reporting that Trevino's deal is now a total of three years at a cost of about $15 million. The deal reportedly contains an option for the 2028 season as well. Trevino was traded to Cincinnati this past offseason after spending the past three seasons with the New York Yankees.

Reds agree to baffling contract extension with Jose Trevino in surprise move

This is definitely a surprise. The new deal for Trevino gives Cincinnati some insurance in the event that Stephenson leaves via free agency after the 2026 season. It also signals that whatever negotiations may have occurred between the Reds and Stephenson this past offseason did not go very well.

Stephenson played in just 50 games during the 2022 season, and upon his return in 2023, was part of three-player platoon behind the plate with Curt Casali and Luke Maile. Last season, however, Stephenson returned to full-time catching duties and experienced a breakout year of sorts. Stephenson improved as a defender while hitting .258/.338/.444 with a 112 OPS+.

On the flip side, getting a Platinum Glove Award-winning catcher like Trevino for an average annual value of about $5 million could be considered a steal. While Reds fans have yet to see Trevino behind the dish, he's said to have a great rapport with the pitching staff already.

Given Cincinnati's lack of developing top catching talent, keeping a veteran like Trevino in the fold for the next three seasons gives the Reds some measure of dependability behind the plate.

All hope is not lost for a Stephenson extension. He's still under team control through 2026. But if the Reds don't strike a deal within the next year, the likelihood of Stephenson being part of the Reds' long-term plans would appear to be very slim.

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