Reds might rethink Tyler Stephenson’s future based on Twins’ offseason strategy

The free-agent catcher market is thinner than the Cincinnati Reds' payroll. Outside of 35-year-old J.T. Realmuto, there isn't a viable starting option to be found. So, what does that have to do with the Reds? With Tyler Stephenson locked in as the starter and high-quality framer Jose Trevino backing him up, they really shouldn't be worried about what's going on in the catcher market, right?

Well, with Stephenson heading into the final year of team control without an extension in hand, there's a chance the Reds could take advantage of the talent deprivation at the position and trade him for a haul of talent to fill gaps elsewhere on the roster.

Twins' Ryan Jeffers is the best catcher on trade market this offseason — will Reds backstop Tyler Stephenson be shopped too?

If they're looking for a blueprint on how to do so, they can just turn their attention to Minnesota. Like Stephenson, Ryan Jeffers is heading into his final year of team control. Unlike Stephenson, the Twins' backstop is a mortal lock to be traded this offseason.

Now, obviously, the Reds and Twins are in different phases of the MLB franchise cycle. Cincinnati is on the upswing, fresh off their first postseason appearance since 2020; Minnesota is in the beginning stages of what appears to be a very arduous rebuild.

Both players are bat-first catchers nearing the age of 30 who have interspersed elite offensive seasons with mediocre ones throughout their respective careers. The Reds may carefully watch how the Twins navigate the trade market for Jeffers — if they get a solid return back, the Reds could jump at the chance to replicate the same feat with Stephenson.

Of course, no matter what happens with Stephenson, the future behind the plate in Cincinnati now resides in the form of Alfredo Duno. There are concerns about his ability to stick at catcher in the long term, but for now, it seems like the franchise will operate under the assumption that the teenager who posted a .948 OPS in 2025 will figure things out in the field.

Of course, they could always extend Stephenson, keeping him and Trevino locked in at catcher, thereby accelerating Duno's development by placing all the focus on his bat. If the Reds truly have no desire to retain their starting catcher beyond 2026, though, that plan goes out the window.

Trevino, who is under team control for three more seasons (including a club option in 2028), is nowhere near the caliber of hitter that Stephenson is at this point. He's pretty firmly a backup catcher nowadays, but he's a very good one at that.

As such, the team would need to secure the services of another starting-caliber catcher before deciding to part ways with Stephenson. Realmuto is obviously available, and the team could always bet the house on Will Banfield's bat translating to the majors. It's really just a question of how the team can bridge the gap to Duno, whether Stephenson sticks around or not.

Ultimately, if the Twins trade Jeffers for a haul, the Reds may decide to follow suit. They'd then simply need to navigate the very catcher market they'd be taking advantage of to find a replacement.