Reds don't have the guts to make this bold change when Tyler Stephenson returns

Tyler Stephenson isn't quite ready to make his return to the Cincinnati Reds active roster. The Reds catcher is currently on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville and will be reevaluated at the end of the week. That gives Jeimer Candelario about six days to prove that he's worth what Cincinnati is paying him, otherwise he could be the odd-man out when Stephenson returns from the IL.

But who are we kidding? There's no chance the Reds would designate Candelario for assignment in order to activate Stephenson, right? Cincinnati signed the infielder to a three-year, $45 million deal last winter and still owe him about $32 million. Bob Castellini is not one to part with his money that easily.

That means that a valuable piece of the current Reds roster is likely to be jettisoned when Stephenson returns from the IL. The idea of carrying three catchers is a difficult one for Reds fans to stomach, but so in the notion of moving on from Austin Wynns. Without any minor-league options remaining, Wynns would have to be exposed to waivers in order to be assigned back to Triple-A. That's a risk the Reds are unlikely to take.

Reds don't have the guts to DFA Jeimer Candelario when Tyler Stephenson returns

But that means one of Santiago Espinal or Blake Dunn is likely heading back to Triple-A Louisville. Other players have minor-league options remaining, but there's no way the Reds are planning to send Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, or Spencer Steer back to Triple-A.

Candelario has started just one game in the past four days and went 0-for-4 against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday with two strikeouts. On the year, Candelario is hitting an embarrassing .113/.198/.213 with two doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI, and 29 strikeouts. When Candelario was in the Reds lineup on Sunday, he was bumped all the way down to No. 8 in the batting order.

Noelvi Marte and Spencer Steer have taken control of the corner infield spots at the moment, meaning Candelario's only chance to get at-bats is likely as the Reds' designated hitter. Those will be at a premium as well, especially if the Reds decide to carry three catchers upon Stephenson's return.

Some Reds fans will hope that Candelario is released in order to make room for Stephenson, but those folks shouldn't hold their breath. Sometimes the most logical move isn't always the most cost-effective.

Instead, those same fans should be hoping to see Candelario snap out of this funk and get back to the player he was during that six-week stretch in 2024 when he looked like one of the best hitters in baseball. But that seems like a long time ago.

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