3 Cincinnati Reds who won’t survive the trade deadline and why

Reds Rumors: Catcher Luke Maile won’t survive the trade deadline

The Reds are one of just a few teams that carry 3 active catchers. This decision has helped them in a few cases, but often comes back to bite them with how crowded the roster is in Cincinnati. The Reds have multiple players on the IL that need a roster spot to make their return. Corner infield prospect, Christian Encarnacion-Strand has been blocked in Triple-A by the lack of a roster spot for him due to the three catchers on the roster.

Luke Maile is likely the odd man out of the three-catcher situation, but it isn’t necessarily his fault. Tyler Stephenson is the future of the Reds at the catcher position, as well as the most talented of the bunch, so his spot is completely safe. Curt Casali has provided incredible production behind the plate as a pitch caller, where the team ERA is sub-4 with Casali catching and over 5 with Stephenson and Maile behind the dish.

There are plenty of teams that could use veteran catching depth. Catchers tend to battle injuries throughout the dog days of summer, making Maile a valuable option for a team looking to make a playoff push down the stretch. As a backup catcher, expect the Reds to receive a return similar to that of the Tommy Pham or Tyler Naquin trade. Maile won’t net multiple prospects.