GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jose Trevino has yet to log a regular-season at-bat or inning behind the plate, but the veteran catcher knows he will be with the Reds for at least three seasons.
Cincinnati and Trevino agreed to a new two-year extension that will keep him with the Reds through 2027, the club announced on Thursday. He was already under contract for the 2025 season after avoiding arbitration with a $3.425 million deal on Jan. 9.
The value of the new deal is $11.5 million, as Trevino will earn $5.25 million in both 2026 and '27, and there is a $6.5 million club option for 2028 with a $1 million buyout. A news conference to announce the deal was held on Friday, with most of Trevino's teammates showing up in support.
“That’s just a testament to all of the hard work he puts in, and we really think he can be an integral part of this team for the next several years," Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said.
Going back to when he went on a Reds Caravan trip in January, Trevino already had a good feeling about the team and this spring has only reaffirmed it.
“I think their talent, look around the room right now, we have some electric guys," Trevino said. "You have Elly [De La Cruz], [Matt] McLain, then you go to the pitching staff. The pitching staff is young, including the guys in the Minor Leagues. I think it’s something to be excited about the future. I also feel like we have a great team now. It’s time to win. When I first came here, all I heard in the city was, ‘Hey, when the Reds are going, this city is fun.’ We’re hoping to do that this year.”
Trevino, 32, would have been a free agent after the season. But after acquiring him from the Yankees in a trade for reliever Fernando Cruz on Dec. 20, the Reds liked what they saw and heard about their new catcher and moved quickly to lock him up for multiple years. Krall said the process began during winter negotiations on a one-year contract to avoid arbitration.
Almost immediately, Trevino earned rave reviews from Reds pitchers and coaches for his work ethic, leadership skills and ability behind the plate.
“The clubhouse moxie is great, and the moxie behind the plate is awesome," starting pitcher Andrew Abbott said. "He’s known for his glove, but he’s there for you in every bit -- scouting reports, going over hitters, blocking pitches. He earned that Platinum Glove that he’s got. That brings value to him, but he’s got value outside of that. He’s a valuable human being, a valuable teammate. He’s always backing people up. He’s always there for you.”
Limited to 74 games for the Yankees last season because of injuries, Trevino batted .215 with a .642 OPS and eight home runs. He lost his starting spot to rookie Austin Wells.
In 2022, Trevino played a career-high 115 games for New York and earned his lone trip to the All-Star Game. That season, he won both Gold Glove and Platinum Glove awards for his defense.
Though he was acquired to be a second catcher for Cincinnati, Trevino will begin the season as the club's regular behind the plate as Tyler Stephenson is sidelined for multiple weeks with a low-grade internal left oblique injury.
“We all know how this works. You need two guys that can handle a workload to catch, work with the staff," Krall said. "We’ve got two really good players here, and it was exciting to be able to do this deal.”
Over seven Major League seasons with the Rangers and Yankees, Trevino is a .236 career hitter with a .637 OPS and 32 home runs.
"Just his knowledge, his awareness for what pitchers are trying to do, it’s something special," said starting pitcher Carson Spiers, who was named to the rotation's fifth spot on Thursday. "It’s going to help our staff out tremendously. He’s one of the smartest guys that I’ve worked with. Now having him and Stevo [Tyler Stephenson] behind the plate -- when Stevo gets healthy -- for a pitcher’s sake, it’s one of the best things you can ask for.”
Senior Reporter Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from 2001-05.
