Scout's appraisal of Alfredo Duno reveals why Reds must extend Tyler Stephenson

Alfredo Duno is supposed to be the future of the Cincinnati Reds franchise behind the plate. There's at least one prominent scout, however, who doesn't think Duno is a good fit — literally!

Keith Law of The Athletic (subscription required) made a recent to the desert and gave his readers feedback after taking in several games during the Arizona Fall League. Law had his eye on the Reds' catching prospect, and has serious questions about whether or not Duno will stick behind the dish.

Law praised Duno's arm talent — which he calls a 70 grade on the scouting scale — and also his receiving ability. The longtime scout, however, isn't buying Duno's measurables — 6-foot-2, 210 pounds — and has a hard time seeing him holding up as a catcher over the long haul.

Alfredo Duno size may prevent him from playing catcher — should the Reds extend Tyler Stephenson?

Unfortunately, when it comes to the catching position, the Reds have put all their eggs in one basket. Though Cincinnati's front office has made efforts in the past, the only catching prospect to speak of is Duno. Highly-regarded draft picks like Mat Nelson, Jackson Miller, or Cade Hunter are either no longer with the organization or buried on the Minor League depth chart.

Without a suitable replacement for Tyler Stephenson, who can be a free agent after next season, the Reds may need to rethink their plans behind the plate. Though Jose Trevino is under contract through 2027, he's hardly a starting caliber backstop. It may be time for Cincinnati to revisit contract talks with Stephenson this offseason.

Stephenson is a much better hitter than defender, but with an all-glove, no-bat player like Ke'Bryan Hayes on the team, Cincinnati needs to receive offensive production from the catcher's position. Stephenson has a career slash line of .261/.338/.426 with a 104 OPS+.

Stephenson, however, may no longer be interested in a long-term deal with the Reds. Though the extent of previous contract talks between the two sides is unknown, once a player is one year away from free agency, they tend to go into their walk-year ready to roll the dice.

Still, the Reds shouldn't abandon hope, and if a mutually-beneficial deal can be struck. The Reds front office should work tirelessly to keep Stephenson in Cincinnati beyond 2026, because they may not have a backup plan.