Reds History: Gold Glove-winner traded to Tigers, paving the way for Tyler Stephenson

During his eight seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Tucker Barnhart was a reliable catcher and fan-favorite. Barnhart won Gold Glove Awards in both 2017 and 2020, but after the 2021 season, with a pricey contract and rising young catcher on the roster, he became expendable.

The Reds traded Barnhart to the Detroit Tigers in November 2021 in exchange for infield prospect Nick Quintana in what was little more than a salary dump. Barnhart had a $7.5 million team-option for the 2022 season which Cincinnati was not going to pick up. Barnhart hit just .247/.317/.368 in 116 games in 2021.

The trade with the Tigers paved the way for Tyler Stephenson to be anointed as the Reds starting catcher heading into the 2022 season. Quintana, a former second-round draft picks, retired from professional baseball in January 2024.

Reds History: Gold Glove-winner Tucker Barnhart traded to Tigers, paving the way for Tyler Stephenson

As for Barnhart, he only spent one season in Detroit, appearing in 93 games for the Tigers in 2022. Barnhart hit just .221 in his lone year with the Tigers. The former Reds catcher signed a two-year deal with the Chicago Cubs in the winter of 2022, but his struggles continued in the Windy City.

Barnhart was released during the offseason and signed a minor-league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks in December 2023. Barnhart spent the 2024 season with the D-backs, and appeared in just 31 games.

After Barnhart's departure, Stephenson took over as the Reds starting catcher in 2022. Stephenson's first year as the team's No. 1 backstop on the depth chart was riddled with injuries. The young catcher spent time on the injured list with a concussion, a broken thumb, and a broken clavicle ended his season. Stephenson was only able to play in 50 games in 2022.

Moving on from Barnhart, especially with a $7.5 million price tag, was the right move. Barnhart never picked up steam after leaving Cincinnati. He would return to the organization in 2024 on a minor league deal, but never made it back to the Reds' clubhouse.

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