Reds hesitation on Tyler Stephenson could cost them dearly

Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (37) reacts | Aaron Doster-Imagn ImagesThe Cincinnati Reds and Tyler Stephenson struggled to come to an agreement for his 2026 salary, and ultimately went to arbitration. The catcher won the hearing against the team and was awarded $6.8 million, but what's more telling is that Cincinnati let a paltry $250,000 gap get to that point. The hardline stance could foreshadow intentions to move in a different direction in 2027.

In the meantime, though, Stephenson is a big part of the club. Last year, he struggled with injuries and fans saw the maladies sap his overall production. His strikeout rate skyrocketed to 33.9%, but under the hood, the batted ball…