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Trade Target: Spencer Steer

In a weak free agency market, could the Mariners return to familiar trade partner in the Reds? Today we look at a young controllable bat that could add some positional flexibility.

By Tanner Vogt |
Atlanta Braves v Cincinnati Reds
Atlanta Braves v Cincinnati Reds / Dylan Buell/GettyImages
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There is no doubt the Mariners will be in the market for a bat this offseason. They are obviously at least two bats away from being able to contend for the division and you probably need more than that. Preferably, you add three solid bats this offseason. Now, not every move can be for a Juan Soto type of player, you have to round out the roster well. Part of that is adding positional flexibility. Today we look at Spencer Steer, who was a very solid bat in 2023, with club control and provides positional flexibility.

Spencer Steer is part of a very talented, young infield core in Cincinnati with guys like Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Noelvi Marte, Jonathan India and Christian Encarnacion-Strand. He played himself into an everyday role, by making playing 3 out of 4 infield spots and 2 of the 3 outfield spots. He doesn't really play any of them well but is probably average to slightly above or below average depending on the position. Steer hit .271/.356/.464 with a 118 wRC+ and was worth 2.1 wins according to fWAR. He hit 23 home runs and ran impressive walk and strikeout rates at 10.2% BB% and a 20.9% K%. He would fit in very well into the middle of the order as long as he is part of 2 or 3 bats you add to this lineup.

It's not hard to figure out that the Mariners need offense, which the Red have a lot of, and the Reds need pitching, which the Mariners have. I hesitate to say "A lot of" because you can never have too much pitching, as we saw this year. Finding a trade package that works here, is a little tricky. I think that Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo holds more value than Steer straight up and both have 1 more year of control than Steer, plus pitching in general is just more valuable that a corner infielder/outfielder. We just haven't a pitcher that has been as good as Miller or Woo traded this early and with this amount of club control, so the value is hard to gauge.

Mariners Acquire Spencer Steer and Jake Fraley/Will Benson for Bryce Miller/Bryan Woo and Jonatan Clase

I think the Mariners would entertain trading Miller for Steer, but the Reds would need to include more for one of the Mariners young starters. I don't know if the Reds would be willing to move Steer and another outfielder like a Jake Fraley or Will Benson, but it might take someone like that to sweeten the deal for the Mariners.

This gives the Mariners a high-end bat in Steer to rotate between the corner infield and outfield spots and DH while slotting in the middle of the order next to Julio, Cal, and Geno. They also get a solid left-handed outfielder to compete with Dominic Canzone for that 4th outfield spot, presuming they add a bigger bat to start in the corner opposite of Kelenic.

This gives the Reds a starter with legitimate #2 upside. Miller is probablty slightly more valuable due to the injury concerns around Bryan Woo. But either one would most likely slot in at the #2 or #3 spot behind Hunter Green and Andrew Abbott.

Mariners Acquire Spencer Steer and Ian Gibaut/Lucas Sims for Bryce Miller/Bryan Woo

Again, adding Steer makes this lineup a lot deeper while giving Scott Servais the ability to rotate him in the outfield, even giving Geno or Ty a day off in the infield. This gives the Reds the mid rotation starter with the upside to be a #2 while dealing from a position of strength in their infield.

In this deal the Mariners would add a solid reliever in Ian Gibaut or Lucas Sims. Sims is a 29 year old who really broke out this year throwing 61 innings while striking out over 10 per 9. He did struggle with walks though, 5.8 BB/9, which is something the Mariners have tried to avoid. Gibaut threw his first full seaon throwing 75 and 2/3 innings and was able to control the zone a little more with 3.3 BB/9 but doesn't have the stuff that Sims has, as evidence by his 8.2 K/9

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