MLBTR published our annual list of non-tender candidates last night. The Astros and Braves already swapped infielders in the Mauricio Dubón/Nick Allen trade with the NT deadline 24 hours away. That indicates both players will be tendered by their new teams but may not have been offered contracts by their original clubs (especially Dubón with Houston).
Essentially everyone who was included on the non-tender list could be a trade candidate. There are a few who are obviously not going to attract any interest at their projected price because of injuries or underperformance (e.g. Nathaniel Lowe, Evan Phillips). Teams could shop any of their more borderline candidates before tomorrow. The Rangers are doing so with Adolis García and Jonah Heim. The Astros would undoubtedly be open to moving on from Jesús Sánchez. Players like Ryan Mountcastle, Jonathan India and Luis García Jr. seem likelier than not to be cut loose if no trade comes together.
They're not the only somewhat costly arbitration-eligible players who could be on the move. There are a few others who didn't strike us at MLBTR as plausible non-tender candidates but wouldn't be especially surprising trade possibilities. These players should have modest surplus value yet still might be better served with a change of scenery or on a team that has more budgetary flexibility to accommodate a mid-level salary. Projected salaries are courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz.
Spencer Steer, Reds 1B ($4.5MM projection, controllable through 2028)
Acquired from the Twins as part of the 2022 Tyler Mahle deadline deal, Steer looked like a building block of the Cincinnati lineup a couple seasons ago. He hit .271/.356/.464 with 37 doubles and 23 home runs in his '23 rookie season. Even with questions about his long-term defensive fit, the bat looked like it'd play.
The numbers have backed up over the past two years. Steer has still reached the 20-homer mark in both seasons, but his rate metrics are down across the board. His batting average has respectively landed at .225 and .238. The on-base percentage has been below .320 in both years. Steer's overall slugging output is also down despite the similar home run tallies. He has hit fewer doubles (21 this season) as his batted ball metrics have regressed.
Steer graded well defensively at first base and was a finalist for the NL Gold Glove award. That's a nice development, but he's still limited to bat-first positions that require him to hit to be productive. He came up as a third baseman but hasn't played there in two years. Steer is athletic enough to play some corner outfield, but his grades out there have been poor. He also played through a shoulder injury this year that impacted his throwing, leading the Reds to be cautious about how much work they gave him anywhere other than first base. Cincinnati should be in the market for an impact bat, and first base has free agent possibilities ranging from Pete Alonso to Ryan O'Hearn. That could make Steer expendable. The Marlins, Padres, Rangers, Red Sox and Diamondbacks are speculative trade partners.
Unlock Subscriber-Exclusive Articles Like This One With a Trade Rumors Front Office Subscription
- Access weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco.
- Join exclusive weekly live chats with Anthony.
- Remove ads and support our writers.
- Access GM-caliber tools like our MLB Contract Tracker
The Reds actually have to get some legit bat first first baseman first before they even think about trading Steer.
Any Reds fan knows that’s about as likely as Johnny Bench coming out of retirement.
Thanks for the daily dose of pessimism. Don’t ever stop being you.
Hey, it ain’t easy being a Reds fan.
It ain’t easy being a Reds fan, but it’s hard to be as whiny and negative and old as “This one belongs to the Reds”.
Try to imagine a 70-year old on MLBTradeRumors who complains about Ye Good Ole Days and Ohtani and the Dodgers… That’s him.
Remember that time you had something nice to say about someone ?
Me neither.
I think the chances of Steer being traded are almost zero. On the other hand, I can’t imagine him being our starting first baseman in 2026 either. My guess is he will be mostly in left and will fill in around the field at other positions like he did in 2024, in 2026.
I am guessing Stewart at first and Steer in left even though he is better defensively at first. Sometimes one or the other at DH. They will end up using internal options rather than adding anyone significant…again.
If they can plug Stewart (and last chance CES) at 1B and use Steer’s trade value to build a pen – and use his cash to sign a LF’er then I can easily see it.
The Braves don’t need another OF, but otherwise I’d love for Mickey Moniak to go to Atlanta.. NL Central teams seem like a good fit.
“Braves don’t need..love for Mickey..Atlanta”..Mickey Moniak’s agent is currently talking to the Savannah Bananas.
He’s hoping to get Mickey signed and into camp in time to try out for the Bananas’ musical remake of “The Natural”.
Moniak’s Coors/non-Coors splits last year were monumental. Just about the widest I’ve ever seen. AND he can only hit righties and is a terrible fielder. Not sure you want him.
The article addresses these points besides for rhp vs lhp. That’s a good point, but teams do not seem to care so much about that.
I’ve never seen Moniak play, and I know WAR doesn’t tell the whole story, but it’s pretty baffling with him. He put up 2 WAR in 2023 as a CF and -0.6 WAR with a similar OPS+ playing RF. So it’s not like he was a 1B/DH being shoehorned into RH because his bat played. Like, did he just not wear a glove this year?
It reminds me of the Dante Bichette years where he’d put up MVP level hitting stats and still put up less than 1 WAR.
In 2023, he was a good defender with +6 defensive runs saved and +4 outs above average. This past season, he had -23 DRS and -8 OAA.
That’s a crazy dropoff for a guy who, as far as I know, didn’t suffer a major injury though.
Steer seems like a good fit for the Red Sox. ‘Tis the season to pontificate……..
Yeah if he’s part of a trade for an outfielder I’d be ok with that
Why do all of these articles have to be behind a paywa- oh wait I pay for it? And it’s worth it? Nevermind.
As a Angels fan I wouldn’t mind if the Angels got Mickey back to play CF
Some.teams.keep selling.prospect.hope as.an excuse.not.to.hire MLB players.
IF the prospects push the issue, you have the opportunity to trade the MLB player and strengthen the team for the long run.
The Tigers have done that for a.long time and the media seems.to play along.
Too much planning and strategy turns into financial strategies to lowball the customer on product quality.
Tricking.the consumer instead.of.full on doing what you can do with the budget you have = full bore, not cutting costs here and.there and realocating slipping in expectations vs fact.
Yes. The Tigers have some great prospects with enormous potential. That should.not.be an excuse to not.hire MLB players, use them, burn them out if.need.be, trade.them…for.more.prospects.
Yes. They may.have to pay higher $/year. It’s call.an investment in the roster
I went tangent as every place I read they talk.Tiger prospects taking the field.with no mlb track.record.
SEEN IT.BEFORE.WITH.TORQUE.AND GREEN. IT CAN TAKE.SEVERAL.YEARS FOR A PROSPECT TO HIT THEIR STRIDE. Fans expect.them.tp.perform.riggt out.of the chute because thats what they are sold.
Tremendous pressure and disappointment is what is causes.
The.med8a.helps them sell it. Bad.
As others have said, I think there is a -0- chance they trade Steer. They have -0- alternatives at 1B, and are already behind in offense.
The Houston Astros made a trade that hard to believe that they traded Mauricio Dubon to the Atlanta Braves for Nick Allen. So who is next r more to come for the Astros. I would like to see they can get Starting pitcher St. Louis Cardinals Sonny Gray and Second baseman Brendan Donovan and get Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan. And resign catcher-first baseman Victor Caratini and maybe a LHP Starting pitcher.