Spencer Steer

Reds Notes: Lineup, Free Agent Pursuits, De La Cruz

By Nick Deeds | November 27, 2025 at 11:03pm CDT

The Reds enter this offseason on the heels of a playoff berth that ended almost as quickly as it came, having been swept by the eventual World Series champion Dodgers in two games during the NL Wild Card series. There’s still reason for optimism headed into next year thanks to a fantastic rotation led by Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott, but Cincinnati’s offense could clearly use some help. It can be hard for a team with the Reds’ small market budget to make substantial upgrades via free agency, but Ken Rosenthal, Will Sammon, and Katie Woo of The Athletic write that the club can be flexible as it tries to upgrade the lineup thanks to their existing players’ significant positional versatility.

According to Rosenthal et al., the Reds’ lineup only has three truly locked down positions as things stand: recently acquired third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes and star shortstop Elly De La Cruz are locked into the left side of the infield, and Noelvi Marte appears to be set as the club’s everyday right fielder going forward. Setting catcher (where the trio of Tyler Stephenson, Jose Trevino, and Ben Rortvedt seem fairly entrenched) aside, that leaves two outfield spots, two infield spots, and the DH slot for a host of players to jockey for playing time in. Spencer Steer, Sal Stewart, Matt McLain, Gavin Lux, TJ Friedl, Will Benson, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand makes seven players currently on the roster for five spots in the lineup, before any external additions. Steer and Friedl seem like the best bets of that group to be locked into regular playing time, though Stewart will surely get an extended opportunity as well coming off an impressive cup of coffee in the big leagues down the stretch.

Friedl has been one of Cincinnati’s best hitters in recent years. While he was limited to just 85 games by injuries in 2024, he earned some down-ballot MVP consideration for a four-win 2023 season where he hit 18 homers, stole 27 bases, and posted a 117 wRC+ in 138 games. This past year saw him look more or less recovered from his injury-plagued 2024, hitting .261/.364/.372 with less power and speed than he flashed in 2023 but a career-best 11.8% walk rate to make up for it. Friedl’s .364 on-base percentage ranked 17th in the majors among all qualified hitters this year, and he’s sure to be an asset to the Reds’ offense whether he ultimately ends up in left field or center field. Steer, meanwhile, has been more of a league average hitter in the past two seasons after enjoying a strong 2023 season, but has average 21 homers and 16 steals over the past three seasons.

Rosenthal et al. suggest that Steer could wind up at either first base or in left field, while Stewart could play either first or second base. With Friedl capable of playing either open outfield spot, Lux experienced at both second base and in left field, and McLain able to handle both the keystone and center, there’s plenty of room for moving parts in the Reds’ lineup. That’s good news for a team that needs to add offense, as the Reds can afford to be opportunistic and not worrying as much about positional fit. If an infielder like Jorge Polanco becomes available, it would be easy enough for the Reds to simply plug him into second base, leaving McLain and Lux to move around the diamond in utility roles while Stewart takes over first base, Steer slides to left and Friedl handles center. Alternatively, a first baseman like Ryan O’Hearn could push Stewart over to second, or an outfielder like Cedric Mullins could push Steer to first base.

Speculatively speaking, that would appear to leave McLain, Lux, Benson, and Encarnacion-Strand without a position headed into 2026, although Rosenthal et al. did suggest the possibility that Benson could platoon with an outfielder acquired in free agency, which could be sensible if the Reds were to land a right-handed bat with significant platoon splits like Rob Refsnyder. Keeping those players in the fold as depth to protect against injuries and under-performance would be a valid path to take for the Reds, though it’s also possible that a trade or two could be made at some point this winter that would help to thin the glut of positional talent jockeying for playing time.

Even as the team looks for external help in the lineup, there’s reason to believe improvements could be on the horizon internally next year, as well. Manny Randhawa and Mark Sheldon of MLB.com recently relayed comments from club GM Nick Krall regarding De La Cruz’s health this offseason. While Krall had previously suggested that De La Cruz played through a “partial tear” of his quadriceps late in the 2025 season, he later clarified that it was actually a quad strain that De La Cruz was dealing with. Quad strains are defined as a partial tear of the muscle, but Krall noted that his wording suggested the injury was more severe than it actually was.

Whatever the specifics of De La Cruz’s injury may have been, the fact that he was playing through something helps to explain his repeated defensive miscues at shortstop in the final months of the 2025 campaign, as well as his lackluster .236/.303/.363 slash line after the All-Star break this season. That creates some reason for optimism that De La Cruz will be able to rebound and turn in a performance closer to his 2024 form (when he hit 25 homers, stole 67 bases, and finished 8th in NL MVP voting) next year. For a Reds club that seems unlikely to broach the top of the market for hitters like Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber, having De La Cruz performing at a star level to anchor the lineup is all the more important.

Seven Arbitration Trade Possibilities

By Anthony Franco | November 20, 2025 at 11:55pm CDT

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.

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NL Central Notes: Pirates, Cherington, Myers, Steer

By Nick Deeds | April 20, 2025 at 3:49pm CDT

The Pirates have gotten off to a difficult start in 2025. The club is 8-15 overall, leaving them in last place in the NL Central and six games back of the division-leading Cubs. While the club’s pitching staff is right around league average by measure of ERA and top-six by FIP, an offense that has produced a wRC+ of just 70 to this point in the year. Despite those struggles on offense, general manager Ben Cherington told reporters (including Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) before Friday’s game that external solutions to the lineup are unlikely, though the team is always open to exploring deals.

“It’s April. Most teams are going to rely on the players that are inside the organization,” Cherington said. “We certainly have an eye out and already we have an eye outside the organization. We will keep an eye on things. We keep having conversations, but trades don’t usually happen this soon. We’ve got to rely on the guys that are here….We are going to get healthier. And then over the course of the season if we do what I believe we will do, then they’ll be opportunities to add to it at some point.”

Spencer Horwitz, Nick Gonzales, and Endy Rodriguez are all currently on the injured list, robbing the Bucs of three players expected to operate in starting or regular roles this season. Perhaps their returns will be enough to get Pittsburgh on track, yet the Pirates will also need several of their healthy but struggling regulars to start heating up.

Reds To DFA Fairchild, Place Hays On IL; Steer Will Not Go On IL

By Darragh McDonald | March 26, 2025 at 1:10pm CDT

The Reds have a few notable moves on tap ahead of Opening Day, as reported by Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. Despite previous reports that infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer will start the season on the injured list due to a right shoulder injury, he actually will make the Opening Day roster but will be the designated hitter only. However, outfielder Austin Hays will go on the 10-day injured list due to a calf injury. Additionally, outfielder Stuart Fairchild will be designated for assignment tomorrow.

At this point, the details on Hays aren’t clear. He was in the lineup for the club on Sunday, stepping to the plate three times. It hasn’t been publicly reported how he sustained his injury or how severe it is. Opening Day IL stints can be backdated by three days, so it’s possible he could rejoin the club as soon as one week into the season if it’s minor.

As for Steer, his right shoulder has been bothering him going back to last year. Here in camp, he’s been able to swing a bat without pain but the shoulder bugs him when he throws. Manager Terry Francona told members of the media a few days ago that Steer would start the season on the IL but it seems the club has changed that plan recently.

It’s understandable that they don’t want to lose his bat. He hit .271/.356/.464 for a 117 wRC+ in 2023. His line dropped to .225/.319/.402 last year but that seems to have been at least partially bad luck, with his batting average on balls in play dropping from .318 to .260 in those respective seasons. Having him in the DH spot will give the club a bit less flexibility but ideally some extra thump.

As for Fairchild, he has largely been serving as a glove-first depth outfielder for the Reds lately. He exhausted his final option year in 2023 but then managed to stick on the roster last year as the club suffered through a number of injuries.

His glovework has been strong but he has a career batting line of .224/.308/.389, which translates to an 88 wRC+. In camp this year, his numbers were far worse, as he slashed .132/.233/.184 in 45 plate appearances. That performance seems to have sealed his fate. The Reds could have kept Fairchild and optioned guys like Jacob Hurtubise and Blake Dunn to the minors, but will open the season with those two and bump Fairchild off the roster.

Once he’s officially DFA’d, he’ll have at most a week to find out his fate, whether that’s a trade or some destiny on the waiver wire. Despite the poor offense, he does have ten Defensive Runs Saved and nine Outs Above Average in his 1,389 1/3 innings. He’s also stolen 23 bases over the past two years. Perhaps some other club will be interested in grabbing him as a fourth outfielder. If that comes to pass, he can be controlled for four seasons since his service time is between two and three years at the moment.

Without Steer, Hays or Fairchild, the outfield might be in flux to start the season. TJ Friedl and Jake Fraley should be regulars in two spots. Gavin Lux might play a decent amount of left field with Matt McLain at second and Jeimer Candelario at third. Candelario can also play first but it seems as though Christian Encarnacion-Strand will be the regular there. Dunn and Hurtubise could also factor into the mix alongside Lux.

Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images

Spencer Steer To Begin Season On Reds’ Injured List

By Mark Polishuk | March 22, 2025 at 11:23am CDT

Spencer Steer hit during a minor league Spring Training game on Thursday, marking his first game action of any type since February 27. Despite this step forward, the bothersome right shoulder that has sidelined Steer for much of camp will result in a season-opening placement on the injured list, Reds manager Terry Francona told MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon and other reporters today.

Because Steer’s shoulder problem only causes him discomfort while throwing, he had expressed some hope that he could break camp with the Reds in a DH-only capacity, allowing him to play while letting his shoulder fully heal up. However, Francona said Steer was understanding of the roster situation, as “being a full-time DH probably isn’t best for him or our team.” Steer will head north with the Reds and continue his work in simulated-game scenarios until the minor league season begins and he can start a proper rehab assignment.

The IL placement doesn’t come as much of a surprise, given how little Steer has played this spring and how his shoulder problem also bothered him for much of the 2024 season. Specifically, the injury causes Steer to feel a twinge whenever he rears back to throw, though multiple tests and scans haven’t revealed anything structural at the root of this discomfort. Steer received a cortisone shot this spring and was shut down entirely for over a week in order to let the shot take effect.

After an impressive rookie season for Cincinnati in 2023, Steer’s production took a step back last year, as he hit .225/.319/.402 with 20 home runs over 656 plate appearances. On the defensive front, Steer played mostly as a left fielder and first baseman, while also chipping in for a few cameo appearances as a right fielder, second baseman, and shortstop. Steer also saw a lot of time as a third baseman during the 2022-23 seasons.

It remains to be seen exactly how the Reds will deploy Steer in 2025, but his overall defensive utility underscores important it is that he can return to work on the diamond. A return to form at the plate would also help, and while Steer has said that his shoulder problem didn’t impact his hitting, it seems like there might’ve been some correlation between his lingering injury and his downturn at the plate.

Offseason signing Austin Hays figures to get most of the left field work in Steer’s absence, while Jeimer Candelario and Christian Encarnacion-Strand look to handle first base, with CES also in line to act as the designated hitter. Candelario is also expected to be part of a crowded mix of third base candidates, as Gavin Lux and Santiago Espinal will also be getting playing time at the hot corner.

Reds Notes: Third Base, Steer, Singer

By Steve Adams | March 14, 2025 at 4:25pm CDT

The question of how the Reds will divide their playing time at third base has loomed large over camp. Some clarity was gained earlier this month when Noelvi Marte was optioned to Triple-A Louisville, but that still left several veterans vying for time at the position. Manager Terry Francona shed some light on the matter this week when he told the team’s beat that Gavin Lux, Jeimer Candelario and Santiago Espinal will all see time at the position (link via Mark Sheldon of MLB.com).

There won’t be a strict platoon, and all three players come with the benefit of being able to handle multiple positions. Lux figures to see some time at second base and in left field. Espinal can play anywhere in the infield. Candelario plays both infield corners. Francona praised Lux, who’s less familiar with the position than his two teammates, in particular and noted that he’s adjusted to the position well. It sounds as though the Reds won’t have a set third baseman or even a set two-man platoon at the hot corner, with pitching matchups and defensive preferences (depending on who the Reds send to the mound that day) all coming into play.

The manner in which playing time at those other spots is divided up naturally hinges on the health of a versatile roster. One key player in that equation is infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer, who’s been sidelined by discomfort in his right shoulder. Steer hasn’t appeared in an official spring game since Feb. 27, though Francona said over the weekend that the 27-year-old had shown “marked improvement” after being shut down for a bit.

Steer is once again swinging a bat, writes Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer, and he’s feeling no pain when doing so. He tells Wittenmyer he thinks being ready for Opening Day is a distinct possibility, though Francona took a more measured approach. While the skipper wouldn’t rule it out, he emphasized that they’re “going to do this right” and that Steer would only be on the roster if he’s fully healthy. A trip to the injured list would somewhat remarkably be the first IL stint for Steer in either the big leagues or the minors. He was drafted by the Twins out of Oregon in 2019 (and traded to Cincinnati in exchange for Tyler Mahle).

A healthy Steer will be all the more important now that Tyler Stephenson appears headed for the injured list. Steer and Stephenson represent two of the Reds’ better hitters, both capable of hitting 20-plus homers and delivering offense 10 to 15% better than league-average. Steer can conceivably factor in at any of the four corner positions or second base. The team could still take the cautious route and place him on the injured list, but it’s notable that things are trending in an encouraging direction.

On the pitching side of things, offseason acquisition Brady Singer talked with MLB Network’s Mark DeRosa (video link) about his surprise over being traded from the Royals to the Reds this offseason and detailed some changes he’s made to his repertoire this spring after working with the Reds’ staff. He also spoke highly of his early impressions working with a future Hall of Fame manager, Terry Francona.

The incorporation of a cutter is of particular note, given that Singer has predominantly been a two-pitch starter to this point in his career. He’s thrown a sinker 51% of the time on a big league mound and a slider at a 41% clip. Singer has at time tinkered with a changeup, and he worked a four-seamer into the mix at an 11.6% clip last year, but he’s never thrown a cutter in the majors.

Finding a usable third pitch could help Singer to combat his susceptibility to home runs; while he’s averaged a respectable 1.10 HR/9 in his career, he’s had a pronounced split between his rate at Kansas City’s spacious Kauffman Stadium (0.85 HR/9) versus his rate on the road (1.36). Moving to the sport’s most homer-friendly venue could prove difficult in that regard, but if the cutter proves effective, the more varied arsenal should help keep opponents off balance.

Reds Notes: Injuries, Steer, Collier

By Mark Polishuk | March 9, 2025 at 12:37pm CDT

Spencer Steer’s ongoing right shoulder problem has been one of the key storylines of the Reds’ spring camp, and manager Terry Francona had some positive news about Steer’s status in conversation today with MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon and other reporters. Steer’s shoulder showed “marked improvement” during an examination yesterday, Francona said, and the team’s plan is for Steer to start a swinging progression at some point this week.

It is still too early one way or the other to know if Steer can be ready for Cincinnati’s Opening Day lineup, though it is a good sign that Steer’s shoulder seems to be responding well to the cortisone shot he received last week. Steer felt good enough to play as a DH in three Cactus League games prior his cortisone shot, as he related to reporters last weekend that he has no discomfort when swinging or even directly throwing, but he feels a twinge in his right shoulder when he is preparing to throw.

This issue has been bothering Steer since last season, and his shoulder tweak has continued even after the offseason. The Reds could continue to let Steer play solely as a DH, but Francona has already stated that the team wants this injury to be corrected once and for all, so Steer can continue his usual role in the field. This is of particular import to the Reds since the versatile Steer was slated to spend time at both corner infield positions and in left field, and limiting Steer just to designated hitter duty wouldn’t be ideal. Keeping Steer out of action entirely and on the injured list is also obviously not a good scenario, yet giving Steer more time to fully recover has long-term benefits.

In other Reds injury news, prospect Cam Collier suffered a torn UCL in his left thumb and will undergo surgery to correct the problem on Thursday, Francona told the media (including Pat Brennan of the Cincinnati Enquirer). Collier won’t be able to hit for the next 4-6 weeks, though he won’t be entirely kept out of all baseball-related activities. Francona noted that “hopefully while he’s down he can just [work on] his legs and turn something that could be perceived as a negative into a positive.”

Collier was selected 18th overall in the 2022 draft, and he is rated as one of baseball’s top 100 prospects by The Athletic’s Keith Law (who ranked Collier 83rd) and MLB Pipeline (90th). Collier hit .248/.355/.443 with 20 home runs in 507 plate appearances with high-A Dayton last season, and he already has parts of three pro seasons on his resume before his 20th birthday. While Collier showed development at the plate, however, Law raised questions about his weight and conditioning, and the possibility that Collier might size himself out of his natural third base position.

Reds Notes: Extensions, Steer, Abbott

By Nick Deeds | March 2, 2025 at 2:19pm CDT

The Reds are in the midst of a youth movement, with a number of key young players within their years of team control. Despite that reality, the only player they’ve managed to secure a long-term extension with who fits that description is right-hander Hunter Greene, who agreed to a six-year deal back in 2023. Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported yesterday that the club is unlikely to add another extension alongside Greene’s this spring after an offseason where the club focused on creating depth in hopes of avoiding a campaign derailed by injuries like they suffered in 2024.

“We certainly have guys in that service-time range,” general manager Brad Meador said (as relayed by Wittenmyer) when asked about extensions. “We’ve talked about some of it. We haven’t gone into real specifics with anyone. It’s been pretty vague with the agents.”

In particular, Wittenmyer notes three players who have expressed interest in getting a longer-term extension done with the Reds: veteran right-hander Nick Martinez, who reportedly discussed an extension with the Reds before accepting their Qualifying Offer back in November, as well as youngsters Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson. Those extension talks between Martinez and the Reds fizzled out once the right-hander accepted the QO, while Wittenmyer notes that both Steer and Stephenson expressed openness to the idea of an extension but there have not been talks between them and the Reds about the matter to this point.

Stephenson would appear to be the more urgent extension target should the Reds have interest. The 28-year-old was a first-round pick by the Reds back in 2015 and has five seasons in the majors under his belt. He rebounded from a down season in 2023 to establish himself as one of the better offensive catchers in the game last year, hitting .258/.338/.444 in 138 games. A free agent following the 2026 season, it wouldn’t be a shock if another solid offensive season from Stephenson put him outside of the Reds’ financial comfort zone as an extension target, though the 2026-27 free agent class features a number of interesting catching options as discussed by MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald last week. That could make Steer a more logical candidate for an extension in the long run, given that he’s under team control through the end of the 2028 season.

Speaking of Steer, the right-handed slugger received a cortisone injection in his ailing shoulder yesterday as he attempts to combat continued soreness after playing through the issue last year. While a timetable for his return remains unclear, manager Terry Francona emphasized his desire to avoid Steer playing through the issue again this year like he did in 2024, and did not shut the door on the possibility of a trip to the IL to open the season for Steer, as noted by Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.

“We need to discuss the next few days or the next week,” Francona said, as relayed by Sheldon. “Everybody points to Opening Day, and I get it, myself included. I’m not saying he’s not going to be ready, but we’ve got to do what’s right for him.”

If Steer is out of action to begin the season, that could open up more playing time for youngster Christian Encarnacion-Strand at first base early in the year. It could also benefit infielder Santiago Espinal by way of opening up third base in the event that Jeimer Candelario shifts across the diamond to cover first.

In more positive injury news, Wittenmyer relayed earlier today that southpaw Andrew Abbott threw his first bullpen session of the spring. Abbot had been behind in camp after a shoulder strain cut his season short last year, but Abbott told reporters (including Wittenmyer) after his bullpen session that it was a “big step” in his progression and that he believes he still has time to be ready to pitch in the first turn through the rotation when the season begins later this month. That would be welcome news for the Reds, particularly given the fact that right-hander Rhett Lowder also entered camp behind schedule. If healthy, Abbott figures to slot into the club’s rotation alongside Greene, Martinez, Brady Singer, and Nick Lodolo.

Latest On Spencer Steer

By Mark Polishuk | March 1, 2025 at 1:32pm CDT

Spencer Steer chose to receive a cortisone shot in his right shoulder after an evaluation from team doctors today, the Reds announced to the media (including Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer). As a result, Steer was removed from the lineup for the Reds’ Spring Training game today, and he’ll be out of action for a few days while the shot takes effect.

The lingering issue has bothered Steer since last season, and he recently described the issue to reporters as a tweak within his right shoulder whenever is preparing to throw. Steer said he doesn’t feel any discomfort while hitting, though it is fair to wonder if this shoulder problem contributed to the dropoff in production between Steer’s 2023 and 2024 seasons. Steer batted .271/.356/.464 with 23 homers over 665 plate appearances in 2023, but then followed up by hitting only .225/.319/.402 in 656 PA, though he still cracked 20 home runs.

A change in batted-ball luck (.318 BABIP in 2023 and a .260 BABIP in 2024) might have been a larger factor, as Steer’s other advanced metrics between the two seasons are pretty similar. The larger change in regards to throwing was that Steer played much more regularly in left field last season than he did in 2023, so the longer throws may have put more stress on his shoulder.

Multiple MRI scans haven’t revealed any structural damage, and Steer has still felt good enough to play as a designated hitter in Cincinnati’s spring action to date. However, the simple fact that Steer’s shoulder is still bothering him even after an offseason of rest is naturally some concern, and the cortisone shot can hopefully correct the problem once and for all.

There hasn’t been any suggestion that Steer’s injury might cause him to miss any time during the regular season, or that the Reds’ decision to DH him is based on necessity rather than precaution on the team’s part. The injury does add yet another wrinkle within a roster full of question marks for Cincinnati, as the Reds are coming off a disappointing 77-85 season marred by injuries and under-performance from several key players (Steer included).

Heading into 2025, Steer was expected to contribute at both corner infield slots and in left field, though exactly how the playing time will be divvied up between these positions and the DH spot has yet to be determined. The newly-acquired Gavin Lux looks to be the Reds’ top option at third base, while Jeimer Candelario is looking to bounce back from a tough 2024 season as part of the corner infield mix, plus Christian Encarnacion-Strand could play first base or DH.

Reds Notes: Marte, Candelario, Rotation

By Steve Adams | June 13, 2024 at 10:17am CDT

The Reds’ offense has underwhelmed as a whole this season — as have many lineups around the game — entering play Thursday with a tepid .226/.307/.372 batting line that clocks in 10% worse than league-average, per wRC+. Cincinnati ranks 13th in the majors in runs scored and 17th in home runs, but that’s largely been a function of situational hitting. Overall, Reds hitters rank 27th in batting average, 19th in on-base percentage and 21st in slugging percentage. They have baseball’s seventh-best walk rate, but also the game’s sixth-highest strikeout rate.

Injuries have played a large role. Matt McLain has been out all season due to shoulder surgery. TJ Friedl has only been able to take 80 plate appearances due to a pair of bad-luck fractures (one in his right wrist, another in his left thumb). Christian Encarnacion-Strand struggled when healthy and is now dealing with both a fracture and ligament damage in his hand, which could cost him the remainder of the season.

Another key factor in the Reds’ offensive struggles has been the absence of third baseman Noelvi Marte, who was hit with an 80-game suspension this spring after testing positive for a banned substance. Marte is gearing up for a return, however. The Reds have played 68 games this season, and the 22-year-old Marte recently went out on a Triple-A assignment to ramp up for his return to play. He’s appeared in two games and gone 3-for-10 with a trio of singles and three strikeouts so far.

Certainly, any time a player is hit with a PED-related ban, their prior offensive performance generates some skepticism among fans. Marte, who hit .316/.366/.456 (120 wRC+) with three homers and seven doubles in 123 plate appearances as a rookie, will have his share of doubters. But he’s long ranked among the game’s most promising prospects and has stunningly consistent results from the minors up through the majors. Marte hit between .271 and .281 at every stop from Low-A, to High-A, to Double-A to Triple-A. His on-base percentage at each of those stops fell between .356 and .369 (lining up with his .366 OBP in last year’s MLB debut). His slugging, similarly, clocked in between .451 and .464.

Marte will be eligible to return to the team later this month and could provide an immediate boost to a club that has seen its third basemen combine to bat just .215/.275/.407. Most of that has been Jeimer Candelario (.226/.294/.494 at the hot corner), though utilityman Santiago Espinal has also played at the hot corner and struggled when there.

Candelario recently spoke with MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon about his early slump this season, preaching the importance of remaining calm and positive during his difficult start to the season. The switch-hitting veteran batted just .189/.282/.379 through the end of April but has since heated up. Over his past 153 trips to the plate, Candelario is slashing .292/.333/.563 with nine homers, ten doubles, a triple, a 5.2% walk rate and a 17.6% strikeout rate.

Manager David Bell praised Candelario’s upbeat nature and even-keel demeanor in the face of his April struggles, telling Sheldon that the glowing reviews of Candelario’s personality and demeanor played into the team’s offseason interest in him. “Everyone we talked to about Jeimer had nothing but positive things to say,” said Bell. “Very important, not only the character in the clubhouse but being a hitter, the stability he provides our lineup.” Catcher Tyler Stephenson offered similar praise about what Candelario has meant to teammates.

Once Marte comes back, Candelario could slide across the diamond and handle first base on a regular basis, stepping in for the injured Encarnacion-Strand and pushing Spencer Steer back to the outfield on a more regular basis. That’d make for a deeper and more consistent lineup.

The offensive side of the game isn’t the only place the Reds have been upended, however. A potentially season-ending shoulder issue for lefty Brandon Williamson and some notable struggles from righty Graham Ashcraft have created uncertainty at the back of the starting rotation as well. While swingman Nick Martinez, who inked a two-year deal worth $26MM over the offseason, is always an option to step into a starting role, it seems the club will give an opportunity to young righty Carson Spiers in the near-term.

Bell said this week that Spiers will step into the rotation Monday (X link via Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer). The 26-year-old Spiers has appeared in five games for Cincinnati this season but worked in a multi-inning relief role. In 19 1/3 frames, he’s notched a tidy 2.33 earned run average with a below-average 18.8% strikeout rate against an excellent 5% walk rate. He’s been similarly effective in a starting role down in Triple-A Louisville. Through nine appearances (eight starts), the 6’3″ righty touts a 2.51 ERA with a 25.4% strikeout rate and 7.8% walk rate.

It’s not clear yet whether Spiers will be afforded a long-term audition or whether he’ll be ousted in the event that Ashcraft turns a corner down in Louisville after being optioned, but the undrafted 2020 free agent will have some control over his own fate when he takes the mound Monday at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park to take on the division-rival Pirates.

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