This was always going to happen.
On Sunday, the Cincinnati Reds traded Austin Wynns to the Athletics, losing a significant member of their roster in the process. The Reds will receive cash considerations in return, which might disappoint some fans who expected more, given Wynns’s overall performance.
Despite this, Wynns offered valuable depth as a catcher, especially after Tyler Stephenson sustained an oblique injury during spring training and added him to the Opening Day roster. Wynns performed well during Stephenson’s absence but lost his spot once Stephenson was back from the injured list.
For a while, the Reds kept three catchers due to limited depth in their minor league system. However, with Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s return late last week, the team opted to designate Wynns for assignment.
Reds trade Austin Wynns to A’s and now have one less option they can trust
Wynns’ impressive performance this season caught the attention of a team like the Athletics, as he boasted a .400/.442/.700 batting line with a 213 wRC+. However, these numbers are inflated by a minimal sample size, with Wynns only having 43 plate appearances this year.
The challenge for the Reds lies in their lack of depth in the minor leagues. While Cincinnati has made significant investments in the catching position over recent drafts, bringing in players like Mat Nelson, Cade Hunter, Logan Tanner, and Connor Burns, none are close to being ready for the majors.
The Reds’ top catching prospect, Alfredo Duno, is still playing at Low-A and is unlikely to debut in the MLB until after the 2027 season. The current catchers at Triple-A Louisville—Will Banfield, P.J. Higgins, and Eric Yang—provide little reassurance if either Stephenson or Trevino is sidelined with an injury.
With Wynns now with the A’s in West Sacramento, it wouldn’t be surprising for the Reds to look for a veteran catcher to sign to a minor league deal. Former Gold Glove winner Tucker Barnhart recently signed with the Texas Rangers and is no longer an option. However, Aramis Garcia and Jacob Stallings, former Reds catchers, are now available and could be considered by Cincinnati this week.
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