The Reds added to their catcher room Friday evening, buying Jose Trevino from the Yankees in trade for right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson. It’s a transfer that not solely offers the Reds among the best defensive catchers within the recreation, however somebody with an excellent popularity with pitchers who might assist the workers.
Trevino received a Gold – and Platinum – Glove with the Yankees in 2022 as a part of an All-Star marketing campaign, however he grew to become the workforce’s second catcher behind rookie Austin Wells final season after he returned from a left quad pressure damage in mid-August. He slashed .215/.288/.354 with eight dwelling runs and 28 RBIs throughout 234 plate appearances in 2024, offensive output that was principally constant along with his seven-year profession averages.
As an alternative, most of his manufacturing got here defensively. His 10 catcher framing runs was tied for the fourth most in baseball final yr, in line with Baseball Savant, whereas his seven blocks above common ranked ninth in baseball. These numbers had been much more spectacular when contemplating he had fewer innings caught than most of his competitors (544 1/3 innings in 2024).
Trevino additionally has a popularity for serving to the complete pitching workers past his framing and blocking on the sector. Getting somebody to assist them to develop younger pitchers reminiscent of Graham Ashcraft, Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott to pair with Hunter Greene has apparent attraction.
“We checked out it as a man that may actually improve our protection at catching and work very well with the pitching workers,” president of baseball operations Nick Krall mentioned over Zoom Friday evening. “…That is one thing we felt we needed to do. Getting a plus-plus defensive catcher to go along with Tyler [Stephenson], we actually felt it has an opportunity to be an excellent mixture.”
Krall acknowledged lately the Reds’ second catcher had been a extra conventional backup. Trevino must be a departure from that. He has proven that he will be an on a regular basis catcher up to now, however that doesn’t imply Stephenson is getting booted from behind the plate. If something, this might create situations the place the 2 catchers will be in the identical lineup, with Stephenson serving because the designated hitter.
Stephenson took a step ahead offensively final season, hitting 19 dwelling runs with a .258 batting common and .782 OPS. Krall celebrated how Stephenson achieved his purpose of catching 1,000 innings final yr, however it is a transfer that might assist him get off his toes extra whereas conserving his bat within the lineup.
“It provides one other aspect of versatility to this membership that we expect can actually improve the pitching workers,” Krall mentioned.
Trevino is ready to change into a free agent after the 2025 season.
In trade, the Reds are sending over Cruz, who recorded a 4.86 ERA over 66 2/3 innings, although his 109 strikeouts and three.27 FIP recommended he was underperforming. Jackson signed a Minor League contract with the Reds in November.
The bullpen was a thorn for the Reds final season, dropping 37 video games, probably the most within the Nationwide League. The workforce has made a couple of strikes to attempt to strengthen the group, notably re-signing Brent Suter, choosing the contract of aid prospect Luis Mey and claiming Roansy Contreras off waivers. Buying and selling Cruz thins the group, however buying a premium defensive catcher was too engaging to move.
“We felt there was some shortage on the catching market,” Krall mentioned. “The aid market, there’s extra folks to bolster your bullpen. … It was a tricky factor to do, however we felt with the shortage within the catching market, that is one thing we needed to make, a commerce out of the bullpen. If we will add a bullpen man, that might be nice.”
