Reds shouldn't let their new philosophy cost them Tyler Stephenson

The Reds are pursuing a "hit over power" offensive philosophy and plan to trade away hitters who don't fit that approach, but the article argues they should retain catcher Tyler Stephenson. While Stephenson's offensive production has declined with a 30% strikeout rate over the past two years and only 15 or fewer home runs annually, his defensive value and rapport with the young pitching staff—particularly Chase Burns and Andrew Abbott, who posted strong numbers with him—makes him difficult to replace. The free agent catcher market offers limited alternatives, with top options either too expensive like Ryan Jeffers or offering minimal offensive improvement over Stephenson. Disrupting the chemistry between Stephenson and the Reds' developing rotation may not be worth a marginal offensive gain.

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