Stephenson currently resides atop the Reds' depth chart at catcher after Cincinnati dealt Tucker Barnhart to the Tigers on Wednesday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though he lacks the defensive polish of Barnhart, a two-time Gold Glove winner, Stephenson should represent a significant upgrade offensively from the Reds' long-standing No. 1 backstop. Even while slotting second on the depth chart for most of last season, Stephenson still earned himself regular starts at Barnhart's expense against left-handed pitching, typically slotting into the heart of the lineup on those occasions. Overall, Stephenson slashed .286/.366/.431 with 10 home runs, 56 runs and 45 RBI, with his 111 wRC+ ranking fourth among the 15 catcher-eligible players that accrued at least 400 plate appearances. The Reds will presumably add another defensive-minded veteran catcher to the roster this offseason, but in the likely event he faces lesser competition than Barnhart and receives an uptick in playing time in 2022, the 25-year-old Stephenson could have a legitimate case for being viewed as a top-five fantasy option at the position.