The Reds were supposed to be building something this year. Instead they've fallen under .500 and slid well back in the Wild Card race, and when a team goes sideways like that in July, the phone in the front office starts ringing. That's exactly what's happening with Spencer Steer, the do-everything infielder/outfielder who's quietly become one of the more useful pieces in Cincinnati's lineup.
Reds Reportedly Receiving Trade Interest In Spencer Steer t.co/9JL7kju0u2
MLB Trade Rumors reported the Reds are getting trade interest in Steer, and it's not hard to see why other front offices are dialing in. The 28-year-old can slide between first base, third base and left field without the defense falling off a cliff, he was a Gold Glove finalist at first last year, and he's hitting .247/.328/.421 this season while playing steady defense in over 250 innings at first. In a deadline market thin on impact bats, that kind of versatility gets noticed fast.
What separates this from a typical rental-deadline story is Steer's contract situation. He's arbitration-eligible, not a free agent until 2029, and just avoided arbitration with the Reds back in January on a one-year, $4 million deal. That means Cincinnati has him under club control for two more seasons beyond this one, so there's zero urgency to sell low out of desperation. If the Reds move Steer, it'll be because the return blows them away, not because the clock is running out.
Still, the fit for contenders is obvious. Reports have linked teams like the Phillies, Mariners, Guardians, Braves, Marlins and Padres as speculative suitors for a righty-hitting bat who can plug multiple holes at once. For a Reds team that's fallen off the pace and is staring at a retool decision, dangling a versatile, cost-controlled piece like Steer is one of the more logical moves on the board heading into the deadline.
None of this means Steer is definitely getting dealt. Cincinnati could just as easily hang onto him as a building block for next year's roster, especially given how cheap and controllable he is. But the fact that calls are already coming in this early tells you plenty about how the Reds' front office is viewing this season, and it's worth watching closely as the deadline approaches.