Reds lose JR House to Diamondbacks but already have a perfect replacement waiting

Cincinnati Reds third base coach J.R. House is heading to the desert. House has reportedly agreed to become the Arizona Diamondbacks new third base coach, a role he occupied in Cincinnati for the past seven seasons. The D-backs recently moved on from Tim Bogar who replaced Shaun Larkin earlier in the season. House is a resident of Arizona, so this is somewhat of a homecoming for him.

This now leaves a void on the Reds coaching staff, not only at third base, but behind the plate as well. House was not only the Reds third base coach, but also served as Cincinnati's catching coach and is credited with helping Tyler Stephenson become a better defender.

While there are some fans who'll bemoan Stephenson's defensive acumen behind the dish, the Reds backstop was among the best in the game at blocking in 2025, ranking in the 95th percentile according to Baseball Savant. Stephenson and the other Reds catchers have praised House for helping them improve this area of their game. Who might Cincinnati turn to fill that role in 2026?

Reds lose JR House to Diamondbacks but Curt Casali could be the perfect replacement

It just so happens that former Reds catcher Curt Casali joined Cincinnati's front office earlier this year. A journeyman catcher who'd previously spent time with the Reds, San Francisco Giants, and Tampa Bay Rays, Casali retired this past season after being released by the Atlanta Braves during spring training.

Casali has been loosely tied to the Giants' managerial vacancy this offseason, but it's far more likely that he'll maintain a role within the Reds organization heading into the offseason. With House now off to Arizona, this would seem to be the perfect opportunity for Casali to begin his post-playing career as a coach.

Casali is certainly qualified to take over as the Reds catching coach, but whether or not he can serve as Cincy's third base is questionable. Those duties, however, could fall to current first base coach Collin Cowgill or Reds' staff assistant Mike Napoli.

Casali is already a coveted name among other GMs, and it would be wise for Reds to lock him into a permanent role on Terry Francona's staff heading into next season.