Reds have an obvious Mets trade target if Jose Trevino's injury is serious

At the moment, it sounds as if the Cincinnati Reds are optimistic that Jose Trevino will avoid a lengthy stint on the injured list. The Reds backup catcher was placed on the 10-day IL with a thoracic spine strain. The placement was retroactive to April 5, meaning Trevino can return as early as April 15.

Trevino left Miami earlier this week and returned to Cincinnati where he'll receive an MRI; the results of which will no doubt dictate the Reds' decision marking moving forward.

For the moment, the Reds have called up journeyman catcher P.J. Higgins. The 32-year-old is not known for his bat, but his defense and work with the pitching staff have shined during his two-plus seasons with the organization.

Higgins spent 2024 and 2025 with the Louisville Bats after a spending the majority of his minor league career in the Chicago Cubs farm system. In 111 games last season, Higgins hit just .240/.300/.345.

The Reds' catching depth is extremely thin. Behind Trevino, Higgins, and Tyler Stephenson are names like Will Banfield, Dayne Leonard, and Michael Trautwein. Cincinnati has high hopes for top prospect Alfredo Duno, but he's unlikely to make his MLB debut until at least 2027.

Might the Reds look to trade for Mets catcher Ben Rortvedt?

If Trevino is out for an extended period of time, the Reds may have to consider options outside of the organization — namely a trade. The Reds picked up Ben Rortvedt during the offseason and carried him on the roster for a couple months, but he was DFA'd after Cincinnati signed Eugenio Suárez.

Rortvedt was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers — the team he played for in 2025 — but was released shortly before spring training. The New York Mets picked him up and outrighted him to Triple-A Syracuse shortly before the 2026 season got underway.

Rortvedt, much like Higgins, is not known for his bat. Across four Major League seasons, he's hit just .190/.279/.270. His best season came with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023 when he appeared in 112 games and posted a .620 OPS. Rortvedt, however, has spent considerable time in the majors over the past several seasons, while Higgins' return marks his first time in the big leagues since 2022.

Hopefully Trevino's injury is mild in nature and he can return to the active roster swiftly. But if he's going to miss months, not weeks, then Cincinnati will need to rethink their strategy.