Reds getting 'plenty' of trade interest on 20-homer utilityman

The Cincinnati Reds began the year on a hot streak, but have since cooled off, and now look more likely to be trade deadline sellers rather than postseason contenders.

With the team looking more likely to sell this summer than buy, Eugenio Suarez and any other player hitting free agency after the 2026 season could be on the move. But a different player under club control for a bit longer is drawing interest already.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Reds are already receiving "plenty of interest" in utilityman Spencer Steer ahead of the MLB trade deadline.

Reds getting 'plenty' of trade interest in Spencer Steer

"The Cincinnati Reds already are getting plenty of interest in Spencer Steer, who can play first base, third base, and left field," Nightengale writes. "He'll be in high demand with so few impact bats available at the deadline."

Steer would be a fantastic trade target for many clubs around Major League Baseball. If there were a player on the Reds roster worth trading this summer who could bring back a huge return, it would be Steer.

Plenty of teams are likely looking for right-handed hitting, and Steer, the 28-year-old right-handed hitting outfielder and corner infielder, who can play middle infield if needed as well, is drawing plenty of interest already.

He is under club control through the 2028 season, giving teams 2.5 years of control if they trade for Steer. But, most importantly, he's a good hitter.

MORE: Cardinals sign JJ Wetherholt to eight-year, $112.5 million contract extension

This season in 90 games across 311 at-bats, he has a .748 OPS with a .244 batting average. Steer has 76 hits, 52 runs scored, 13 doubles, 14 home runs, 36 RBIs, 34 walks, and three stolen bases.

Any team with a need for a right-handed hitter surely would have interest in Steer, thanks to his versatility and ability to consistently hit at least 20 homers in a season.

In Steer's first full season in 2023, he hit 23 homers, then had 20 in 2024, 21 in 2025, and now this season is on pace for over 20, with his 4.0% home-run-rate higher than it's ever been in his career.

Steer is drawing significant trade interest, and could very well be on the move this summer by the August 3 trade deadline if the Reds can't make up enough ground in the postseason hunt, and receive a strong-enough offer to move the controllable utilityman.

More MLB news:

• Cubs ‘realistic’ trade idea sends Seiya Suzuki to the Mariners for Luis Castillo
• Phillies trade idea lands Jung Hoo Lee and Robbie Ray from Giants for 2 prospects
• Yankees trade idea sends Carlos Lagrange to Athletics for utilityman Zack Gelof
• What happened to Shohei Ohtani? Why Dodgers star won't pitch tonight, or play in All-Star Game
• What did Blue Jays get for Tommy Nance? Twins send .855 OPS catcher prospect in trade