The Texas Rangers have been linked to a player who checks a lot of boxes for a club trying to patch together a second-half push: Cincinnati Reds utility man Spencer Steer.
Former GM and baseball insider Jim Bowden sees Steer as a strong fit in Arlington, and the case is easy to understand. The Rangers need right-handed power, and Steer brings that along with the kind of defensive flexibility that can change how a lineup is built on a nightly basis.
Through 92 games in the 2026 season, Steer has hit 16 home runs and driven in 40 runs while splitting time at first base, second base, third base, and all three outfield spots. His .250/.330/.441 slash line lines up closely with Jake Burger and sits just below Josh Jung and Wyatt Langford. He also comes with two additional years of club control beyond 2026.
That versatility is the real selling point. Steer could help against left-handed pitching as part of a DH platoon with Joc Pederson.
He could give the Rangers another option at first base and allow Burger to slide into the DH role at times. He could even cover an outfield corner if Langford gets hurt again, which would give the club a built-in safety net.
Against lefties, Steer has been especially effective, posting a 1.039 OPS over 95 plate appearances. That kind of production makes him more than just a movable piece; it makes him a bat that can stay in the lineup.
And he would not be coming to Texas as a part-time player. Steer has been a regular for Cincinnati, logging between 550 and 660 plate appearances over the last three seasons. That’s a notable contrast with Josh Smith, whose role in Arlington has not been as steady over his five seasons with the Rangers.
The price would not be trivial. Texas would likely need to give up a good prospect and possibly include cash considerations. But according to the reporting, the Reds should not be asking for top-tier names like Sebastian Walcott or Caden Scarborough.
The Rangers also do not have a deep prospect stash to work with after the Gore deal. The pitchers who could interest Cincinnati are Emiliano Teodo and perhaps Seong-Jun Kim, a 19-year-old South Korean two-way player in the rookie-level leagues who, like Josh Owens, brings plenty of upside.
Even with that limitation, the fit remains obvious. The Rangers need another right-handed bat with pop, and Steer’s ability to move around the diamond would give Skip Schumaker a lot of lineup flexibility alongside Ezequiel Duran.
In Other News...
Two Rangers Lefties Just Sent Very Different Signals To Chris Young
Jordan Montgomery and Cody Bradford are both working back from injuries on rehab assignments, but their recent outings sent the Rangers front office in different directions. Neither left-hander has appeared in a major league game this season, and the club is still sorting out what their progress means for the rotation picture as the trade deadline approaches.
Bradfords second rehab start offered a cleaner step forward, while Montgomerys latest turn was much less encouraging. With Aug. 3 looming as the deadline decision point, Texas has to weigh not just who is getting closer, but how much confidence each pitcher is giving the club in the final stretch before those calls have to be made. [Read more 🡒]
Several Rangers Suddenly Have No Margin For Error In Second Half
The second half has a way of sorting out who fits and who is simply passing through, and for a handful of Rangers, the next few weeks could carry real roster consequences. Cameron Cauley and Alejandro Osuna are still trying to turn opportunity into staying power, while Justin Foscue, Joc Pederson and Kyle Higashioka are each working under a different kind of pressure, whether it is about carving out playing time, protecting a place on the roster or making sure the front office keeps them in the long-term conversation.
For Texas, the intrigue is less about one hot streak than about how these cases intersect with the clubs bigger plans. Some of these players are trying to prove they belong in the present, others are trying to show they can still matter beyond this season, and the teams decisions over the next stretch could shape both the lineup and the margins of the roster heading into the winter. [Read more 🡒]
Corey Seagers Return Still Hinges On One Frustrating Rangers Reality
Corey Seagers path back from a lower back injury is moving, but it is moving on the Rangers terms. The shortstop is on the 10-day injured list and is in the middle of a seven-day ramp-up in baseball activities, with Skip Schumaker stressing that the club is more focused on recovery and progression than on pinning down a date. Soft toss and ground balls are already part of the process, and the next steps are expected to get more demanding as Seager works back toward game speed.
What still makes this a tricky watch for Texas is the checklist that has to be cleared before he is activated. The Rangers want Seager to get through full-speed infield work, base running, throwing and live batting practice before they bring him back, which means the finish line is still a little hazy even as the rehab advances. He will not be activated Monday when the club returns to Arlington to face the Chicago White Sox, so for now the wait continues. [Read more 🡒]