Reds-Yankees trade is already paying dividends in light of Tyler Stephenson's injury

When the Cincinnati Reds acquired Gold Glove Award-winning catcher Jose Trevino in a trade with the New York Yankees this offseason, the move was understandable, even if Cincy had to give up high-leverage reliever Fernando Cruz in the process.

Trevino should be a competent backup catcher, and his defensive skills and veteran know-how would be an asset to Cincinnati’s young pitching staff. Tyler Stephenson’s injury, though, has cast the deal in a new light.

On the one hand, the Reds don’t have to go too far to find a player who can handle the everyday catching duties. Trevino has averaged 81 games over his past three seasons, and he should see his power play a little bit better at Great American Ball Park than it did at Yankee Stadium. He’s patient at the plate, often placing in the top quarter of the league in strikeout rate. Those extra looks could equate to more opportunities for the Reds’ speedy players to swipe bags.

Reds catcher Jose Trevino will be thrust into the spotlight after Tyler Stephenson’s injury

On the other hand, Trevino is generally a weak hitter. He has a career 75 OPS+ (100 is average), and he hit under .220 in each of the past two seasons. This, combined with the loss of Stephenson and any lingering effects when he returns, could be too much for the Reds to overcome.

Still, if Cincinnati can swing a savvy move for a short-term catcher to pair with Trevino, the Reds could mitigate these concerns. Having seen Trevino exit last week's game following a foul tip off his hand, it makes the notion of adding another catcher even more important. Fortunately, the latest reporting revealed that there was no fracture and Trevino is day-to-day.

It’s hard to look on the bright side when one of the team’s biggest offensive weapons goes down, but having Trevino be the primary catcher working with the young rotation as it moves into the season might not be terrible. If he can get the starters on a roll, the rotation has a chance to be formidable, and then the return of Stephenson could bolster the team even more.

While this wasn’t anywhere near the plan for the Reds, I’m going to trust in Trevino. He’s a vet. He’s been here before. He’s a former All-Star. He can help pull the team through.

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