The Guardians have a very specific kind of problem, and Spencer Steer fits the answer neatly: they need a right-handed bat, and they need one who can actually hurt left-handed pitching.
Steer, a 28-year-old right-handed first baseman/outfielder/DH for the Reds, is under arbitration team control through 2028. Over his career, he has posted a 103 wRC+, a 21.7/10 K/BB%, and a .180 ISO.
Defensively, he has been a plus at first base, with a career +13 in DRS and +1 in OAA. He has also spent some time at second and third, but he is not a good defender there, and his corner outfield work has graded poorly as well.
The bat is what makes him interesting. Against left-handed pitching, Steer owns a 184 wRC+ for his career.
Against righties, that number drops to 77 wRC+. In other words, he profiles as a strong short-side platoon hitter, and that type of player is not exactly easy to find in today’s game.
That scarcity is part of why Cincinnati could get more for him than his overall profile might suggest. Steer is older, his defensive value is limited, and he is not really playable against 75% of MLB pitchers.
Still, a league-average bat who can reliably handle first base and punish lefties has real market value. The Reds also sit 8 games under .500 in a difficult National League, which makes a retool or rebuild easier to justify, especially for an ownership group that has a reputation for being cheap and might prefer moving a late-arbitration player like Steer for younger talent.
For Cleveland, the fit is straightforward: Steer would step into David Fry’s role.
Fry’s 2024 run was memorable, and his personality has made him easy to root for, but the numbers since then have not been kind. Since that generational April-May stretch in 2024, Fry has hit for an 82 wRC+ with an xwOBA of .264, which would place him closer to a 72 wRC+ level.
Even in the job he is supposed to own - punishing lefties - he has managed only an 85 wRC+ against southpaws during that span. The Guardians also do not trust him to catch, and at first base and in the outfield he is only passable at best.
If Cleveland is looking for the clearest spot to upgrade at the deadline, this is it.
The catch is cost. Because dependable right-handed bats who can mash lefties are so scarce, Steer could be priced above what his overall production says he should bring back.
Cleveland does have the kind of minor league depth that can compete in a deal, especially with talent at Double-A and above. If the Guardians wanted to beat any offer, they could.
Still, there are names I would not include in that kind of conversation: Angel Genao, Ralphy Velazquez, Braylon Doughty, and Juneiker Caceres. Beyond that group, though, the system is available for discussion.
A post-trade lineup could look like this:
- Kwan CF
- Jose 3B
- DeLauter RF
- Steer 1B
- Hoskins DH
- Rocchio SS
- Martinez LF
- Hedges C
- Bazzana 2B
In Other News...
Guardians Trade Deadline Pressure Just Spiked After Brutal Outfield Update
The Guardians outfield depth took another hit this week when CJ Kayfus, a prospect who had been part of the clubs fallback plan, was forced out of the picture after ankle surgery. Kayfus had recently been optioned to Triple-A, but his presence still mattered as a potential next man up if injuries or inconsistency thinned out the major league group again.
Now the front office has a tougher read on what it can afford to wait out as the trade deadline approaches. Losing Kayfus as a minor-league safety net does not just trim one name from the depth chart, it sharpens the need to consider outside help, and Cleveland may have to decide sooner rather than later whether to add another outfielder or trust the internal shuffle a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Have Quietly Let Another Promising Outfield Bat Slip Away
A promising outfield bat who once looked like part of Clevelands future is getting a fresh start elsewhere after the Guardians moved on and he landed with the Phillies on a two-year minor league deal. The change of scenery comes after a season interrupted by a shoulder injury, a setback that slowed a player who had shown real offensive upside in the organization before things went sideways.
He is already back in game action with High-A Jersey Shore, which gives Philadelphia a chance to see whether there is still more to unlock. For Cleveland, it is another reminder of how quickly a developmental path can change, especially when injuries start to chip away at the progress a young hitter has made. [Read more 🡒]