REVEALED: Tyler Stephenson’s TENUOUS Relationship with the Cincinnati Reds to be TESTED Further
Tyler Stephenson’s days as a Cincinnati Red appear numbered, as contract tension and looming arbitration signal a seismic shift behind the plate. Jeff and Steve break down why Stephenson, once the Reds’ catching cornerstone, could be on his way out and what that means for a catcher room already in flux. The duo also unpacks the heated arbitration cases for Stephenson and Graham Ashcraft, revealing how even a $250,000 gap can fracture player-management relationships and set the stage for offseason drama.
Payroll strategy takes center stage, with a deep dive into the Reds’ financial outlook and bold, creative proposals—like potential trades involving Gavin Lux and Brady Singer to clear space for a Eugenio Suárez reunion or a Reese Hoskins pursuit. How will looming arbitration for Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene’s escalating contract shape the club’s window of contention? Don’t miss this candid, numbers-driven analysis of Cincinnati’s most pressing offseason dilemmas.
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26 comments
I'm not a huge fan of Stephenson. Just something I do not like. I would love to see us trade him.
EDLC, Abbott, and Greene will all get hefty raises, but Candelario will come off the books along with Singer and Stephenson as well.
Krall said the Reds need to develop their talent. To me that means next off-season some of the people hitting arbitration will be traded like the Rays do. You trade a player whose cost increases for major league ready prospect (s), play him 3-4 years and then trade him.
Is it not just as wrong to play up your importance as much as it is for the team to downplay it? Why are the players always defended ? They always choose the highest offer. And they don’t have to pay an entire organization.
It’s business. They don’t think a player is worth something. You said his trade value is nothing which only strengthens the teams point about why they’re not giving him what he wants .
Players making errors doesn’t affect era much. Bc when those errors score, those runs are unearned.
We have this season to compete on the cheap, bc next year the Bills start coming due for the young guys.
If they don’t keep Stephenson, then who r they going to get but we are talking about the Reds same old Reds.
The mental gymnastics to make it seem like the reds hitters are all gonna have a break out is comical.
Why are we so quick tontrade the only SP that can go 33 starts for a guy who will probably hit .190 next season?? Makes no sense.
I don’t even think the reds grab a wild card this year. Other teams would have to underperform like last year
Suarez charger 7 more fingers. Both high rbi Defense side of ball Suarez if needed schwarber No !
Alfredo Duno is right around the corner!
Just listened to Duke Tobin on LOB. Although I now live in ATL, I live Ohio sports. Can I say how much Reds and Bengals ownership makes me puke?
The reds made 19 million in ticket sales .what did the organization make in concessions ?
I’ve had it. I’m going to follow the Indians this year.
Dear ownership we see through the clown show. Want to lean into a small market budget fine. Better be getting your money ball guru locked down! Championship or bust
This title is so ridiculously stupid
Who in the world would want to play for this team.They are an embarrassment.
Or they could stop feeding us this lie that they didn't make money last year after making the playoffs! They have every ability to increase payroll but they'd rather pocket it, everyone wants to blame big market teams when the real blight on the league are small market teams like our reds who are completely fine collecting the league revenue check, while never giving more than the illusion of a competitive product
If the owners won’t spend money, then they should sell the team to someone that can afford to own a MLB team. The brewers are in a small market and they do pretty good.
I’m confused why the fellas continue to dangle Brady Singer as trade bait or outright, “please take his contract.” HE LED THE TEAM IN WINS! Plus, he’s an innings-eater that will help save the bullpen. Also, we all (should) know ownership doesn’t care about winning a pennant. They want to make money and create the illusion they have a competitive team to keep fan interest. So Krall has to “stay the course” because big risks come with possible big failures and losing fan interest = losing $. This ownership blows.
Why aren’t you guys mentioning the dead money owed to Candy this year which is what 15-18 million? That’s off the books next year, so all this arbitration talk about next year isn’t gonna change the budget that much imo.
Trade Singer and Lux.
Add Quintana for 3-5 mil to take Singer's spot for half season.
Add Suarez and a reliever.
The Red's need to pony up and sign Tyler to a long term detail. He is one of the better catchers in baseball and compares to Will Smith and William Contreras as far as stats after the same number of games. Smith made 12.4M on 2025, Contreras made 9.9M and Tyler only 6.8M. Pay the guy! We dont want Trevino as our everyday catcher and there is nothing in the farm system. Duno will never be a ML catcher.
I lost track whether we're talking about the Reds or the Bengals. 😂
Exactly the same talking points.