One injury in Cincinnati may have nudged the trade deadline picture in Toronto’s favor.
The Reds have put Spencer Steer on the Injured List with a right wrist sprain after he was hurt in Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
That matters beyond Cincinnati, because Steer had been shaping up as one of the more appealing right-handed bats available this month. Buster Olney of ESPN reported that Steer will miss “significant time,” a blow that could thin out a market already short on productive right-handed hitters.
Steer’s appeal was easy to see. The 28-year-old brings power, defensive flexibility and the kind of versatility contenders love when they’re trying to patch multiple holes at once.
He has 16 home runs, 40 RBIs and a .238/.319/.421 slash line in 98 games this season, and he’s gone over 20 home runs in each of the last three years. With Cincinnati five games back of the final National League Wild Card spot, the Reds are likely to sell, which only made Steer more interesting as an impending free agent and one of their best trade chips.
That’s where the Blue Jays come in.
Toronto has its own right-handed hitter who can move around the diamond in Ernie Clement. He isn’t Steer’s exact match, but he checks enough of the same boxes to draw attention from teams looking for infield help. Clement also comes with something Steer doesn’t: team control through after the 2029 season.
And Clement is putting together the best offensive year of his career. He earned a starting nod at second base in the All-Star Game and has posted a 3.2 offensive fWAR with a 109 wRC+ and a .313 BABIP. The power hasn’t jumped off the page - he has eight home runs in 103 games - but he’s added 25 doubles and a .748 OPS.
There’s a strong argument for Toronto to simply keep him. Clement is affordable, and he’s become a fan favourite.
But the market may be working in his favor. If clubs are hunting for a right-handed bat who can move around and handle pressure spots, they may have to pay up for Clement.
He’s been effective against both sides, too, with a .283/.332/.425 line versus lefties and a .303/.322/.426 mark against righties. In high-leverage situations, he’s also delivered, carrying an .810 OPS and a 118 wRC+.
Those are the kinds of numbers contenders want when they’re shopping for help. Luis Arraez of the San Francisco Giants appears positioned to lead the second-base market, but Clement could easily emerge as the next-best option.
Toronto doesn’t have to move him. It also has prospects at similar positions who will eventually force some decisions. But right now, Clement may never be more valuable than he is at this moment, and the Blue Jays could find themselves staring at an offer too strong to ignore.
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