If the Reds decide to move Spencer Steer before the August 3 deadline, the Blue Jays make a lot of sense as a landing spot - and the return would have to be substantial.
That’s the basic case Jim Bowden laid out in his recent Athletic piece, where the former Reds general manager identified Steer as Toronto’s best fit. The logic is easy to follow: the Blue Jays need more punch in the lineup, and they’ve been one of the worst teams in baseball against left-handed pitching in 2026. Their 84 wRC+ versus lefties is the third-worst mark in the sport, while Steer has absolutely punished southpaws this season with a .324/.437/.620 line and a 181 wRC+.
Cincinnati, though, would not be dealing from a position of weakness. Steer is under team control for two more seasons after this one, and he brings a lot more than just bat-to-ball production.
He can move around the diamond, earned a Gold Glove Award nomination at first base last season, and has launched at least 20 homers in each of the last three years. That kind of player doesn’t come cheap.
Still, the Reds are staring at a deadline where very few names should be truly off-limits outside of Elly De La Cruz, Chase Burns, and Sal Stewart. So if Toronto wants Steer, the conversation has to start with real value.
One possible centerpiece is Brandon Valenzuela, a switch-hitting catcher who just debuted in the majors with the Blue Jays this season. The former Padres prospect is hitting .241/.324/.411 with seven home runs and a 99 OPS+, and he’s widely regarded as a strong defensive catcher and one of the best framers in the game. That matters for Cincinnati, especially with Tyler Stephenson headed for free agency after the 2026 season and top catching prospect Alfredo Duno still at least a year, maybe two, from the big leagues.
Another name that fits the kind of package the Reds would ask for is Jake Bloss. Depending on which outlet you trust, he’s a borderline top-100 prospect.
Toronto got him from Houston in 2024, and after a strong minor-league start in 2025, he suffered a UCL injury and missed the rest of the year. He has not pitched in 2026, and the source material suggests 2027 may be the better target for his return.
The upside is obvious - a possible middle-of-the-rotation starter - but the injury history adds risk, which is why Cincinnati would likely need more than just Bloss.
Jake Cook is another possible piece. The Blue Jays picked him in the third round last season, and the 22-year-old brings blazing speed. He’s still raw, but he has a good eye at the plate and has stolen 15 bases in the minors this year.
Then there’s RJ Schreck, who has become one of the more intriguing names in Toronto’s system. Acquired from Seattle in a 2024 deadline deal, he’s a top-10 prospect in the Blue Jays’ pipeline according to MLB.com. Since joining the organization, he has kept his on-base percentage above .380 and can handle all three outfield spots.
The last name in the mix is Johnny King, a 19-year-old left-hander who is still a long way from the majors. He’s been dominant at High-A Vancouver this season, posting a 30.7% strikeout rate along with a 2.92 ERA and 3.86 FIP in 16 starts.
In Other News...
Eugenio Surez Just Reached A Painful Crossroads With The Reds
Eugenio Surez came back to Cincinnati with the kind of expectations that usually follow a familiar face returning to a place where he once mattered. Instead, the season has been defined by interrupted rhythm and missed time, including a left oblique strain that cost him 25 games, and by the broader frustration of a Reds club sitting in last place and looking toward the August 3 trade deadline with a sellers mindset.
For Surez, the crossroads is less about nostalgia than about whether there is still enough production left to matter in the stretch run. His offensive numbers have lagged, his defensive value has slipped, and even with Terry Francona publicly showing faith in what Surez can still provide, the bigger question around the veteran is whether Cincinnati can get enough out of him to change the conversation at all. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Just Got A Costly New Reality On Jacob Misiorowski
The Reds long-term bet on Chase Burns has already sent a ripple through the division, and it is the kind of move that tends to reset the market for young pitching. A seven-year, $105 million extension gives Cincinnati cost certainty on a right-hander with front-line upside, while also putting a fresh price tag on what elite, pre-arbitration arms can command when teams decide to buy out the future early.
For Milwaukee, that matters because Jacob Misiorowski is now the next name to watch in the same conversation. The Brewers have a pitcher whose performance this season has only strengthened his case, and the Burns deal suggests any serious extension talks would have to climb well past that benchmark. In other words, if the Brewers want to lock Misiorowski in, they may be staring at a number that gets uncomfortable in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Prospect Just Made The Kind Of Debut Fans Notice
Ben Wereski did not need long to make an impression in the Reds organization. The Double-A right-hander, now with the Chattanooga Lookouts, was named Player of the Week after a dominant first outing that immediately put him on the radar in a system that has been leaning hard toward college arms and polished, ready-made talent in recent drafts.
Wereskis path makes the debut even more notable. He pitched at Columbia and Rutgers, spent time in independent ball before landing with Cincinnati, and arrived with the kind of backstory that often comes with a little extra urgency. With the Reds continuing to build around college players and with draft rules potentially shifting in ways that could change how clubs like Cincinnati attack future classes, performances like this one only sharpen the conversation around who might be next to rise. [Read more 🡒]