Reds add Austin Wynns to roster, will once again carry a trio of catchers

Hmm...

Back before the 2024 Major League Baseball season began, the Cincinnati Reds signed veteran catcher Austin Wynns to a split contract, one that would pay him $950K for time in the big leagues and some $300K for his time with their minor league affiliates.

That took up a 40-man roster spot, however, and before that contract ever got a chance to truly play out, the team designated him for assignment as part of a series of other moves. Wynns, though, opted to stick around with the Reds after passing through waivers, and that decision seems to have paid off today.

Wynns was selected to the active roster by the Reds today, a move that saw OF Jacob Hurtubise optioned to AAA Louisville and OF Conner Capel DFA’d to create space on both the active and 40-man rosters.

That leaves the Reds with a trio of catchers on their active roster, something that they opted to do with Tyler Stephenson, Luke Maile, and Curt Casali last year to [/insert whichever word you can find that is the opposite of ‘aplomb’]. That’s enough to prompt speculation as to whether this is part of something bigger, with the fine folks at MLB Trade Rumors wondering if a hit-by-pitch on Stephenson’s wrist may be playing a part in this all.

Perhaps it was as simple as Wynns having an opt-out and the Reds choosing to use it to keep him around for now. Perhaps it’s a tell that TJ Friedl’s hamstring is doing much, much better, since optioning one OF and designating another wouldn’t be a prudent move if it were serious. It could also, in theory, be a preemptive move that will allow for Stephenson to get more time at DH/1B again since, in all likelihood, the decision on Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s wrist/season will be made any minute - and said decision is almost certain to be bad news.

Regardless, this team is now a three-catcher team, and Austin Wynns is a part of it.