Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson is finding his stride at the plate, and as his offensive production climbs, speculation about his long-term future with the club is picking up again. Even with his recent hot streak and a track record of providing stability at one of baseball’s toughest positions, the Reds have yet to offer him a deal beyond his current arbitration agreement — raising the question: what’s the delay?
Stephenson, 28, is set to enter his final year of arbitration (Arb-3) and is poised to become a free agent after the 2026 season. That leaves the Reds with just one more year of team control before he can test the open market.
His value continues to rise with each strong performance. In his last seven games, Stephenson is slashing .385/.467/.808, with three home runs and seven RBIs — a clear sign he’s becoming a more consistent offensive force.
Reds could be playing with fire by not extending Tyler Stephenson
When healthy, Tyler Stephenson has routinely proven himself to be an above-average hitter for a catcher. Based on his current performance trends and market projections, he’s estimated to be worth a seven-year deal valued at \$78.1 million — averaging just over \$11.1 million annually. That would place him among the league’s highest-paid catchers, though still below the elite tier occupied by names like Buster Posey or J.T. Realmuto. Considering his current ranking — 157th overall and 6th among catchers — it’s a deal that appears both fair and team-friendly by MLB standards.
So why the hold-up? The Reds may be opting for a cautious, wait-and-see strategy. Stephenson has a history of injuries, and the front office could be hesitant to commit significant long-term money to a player whose durability has been a concern. Still, in today’s catching landscape — where there’s a sharp drop-off from top-tier talent to average — the potential upside seems to outweigh the risk.
As Cincinnati’s promising young core continues to develop, keeping a reliable veteran like Stephenson behind the plate could be a smart investment. Building chemistry between catchers and pitchers takes time, and few understand the Reds’ pitching staff as well as Stephenson does.
If the Reds delay too long, they risk losing him in free agency just as he’s hitting his prime. His bat is heating up — and so is his value.
