Cincinnati Reds utilityman Spencer Steer figured to be a popular target before MLB’s Aug. 3 trade deadline for teams seeking a right-handed power bat.
However, interest in Steer may be subdued after he was placed on the injured list with a right wrist sprain. The Reds announced the move on Monday. The fifth-year major-leaguer is expected to miss significant time, ESPN’s Buster Olney reports.
Steer, 28, left Sunday’s 5-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth inning after reaching to foul off a pitch from Kyle Leahy. After making contract, he shook out his right hand and walked around home plate to give himself some time.
That prompted Reds manager Terry Francona and a team trainer to check on him. After that conversation, Steer was removed from the game in favor of Edwin Arroyo.
“He didn’t fight me to come out of that game,” Francona said after the game, via MLB.com. “That makes me nervous. We’ll get him looked at, we’ll get him imaged, and then they’re setting up an appointment with the hand specialist.”
Prior to his injury, Steer registered a .238/.319/.421 slash line with 16 home runs, 14 doubles and 40 RBI in 98 games. In addition to his power, Steer can play a variety of positions around the field. This season, he’s mostly played first base (48 games), but also seen significant time in left field (30), right field (27) and second base (16).
Yahoo Sports’ Russell Dorsey ranked Steer 20th among his top 25 trade candidates, citing his versatility and his consistent power.
“If there’s one thing that makes Steer a unique trade candidate this year, it’s that he’s the only player on the list who can play any position you need. Steer has been every bit of a utilityman during his time with the Reds, playing every position except catcher at least once since 2022. And if you gave him a few days to learn, he could probably catch, too.”
Steer has hit 20 or more home runs during his previous three seasons and has a career .421 slugging percentage.
Additionally, any team that acquired Steer would have him under club control for two more seasons after this one with two remaining years of arbitration eligibility. He and the Reds settled on a $4 million salary before this season to avoid arbitration.
Among the teams reportedly showing interest in Steer were the Seattle Mariners. The New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies are looking to add right-handed bats, according to reports. The Boston Red Sox can probably be scratched off that list after acquiring Curtis Mead from the Washington Nationals on Saturday.
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