Fringe trade rumors linking popular Reds players has Cincy's fanbase on edge

The Cincinnati Reds fanbase was not happy with the latest trade rumors that emerged on social media. Jack Azoulay-Haron, a freelance MLB reporter, cited sources claiming that both Alexis Díaz and Spencer Steer have drawn trade interest from a number of teams this offseason.

The report specifically cites the Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays as potential suitors for Diaz, and linked Steer to a team in the AL East and another in the NL West. This chatter caused an uproar on social media Wednesday night with a number of unhappy fans venting their frustrations over the thought of Cincinnati possibly moving their closer and one of their best hitters.

Reds Rumors: Are Spencer Steer and Alexis Díaz really on the trade block?

Reds fans shouldn't be shocked to hear either player's name in trade rumors. Díaz didn't perform exceedingly well in 2024, but still has three years of team control remaining and did record 28 saves last season. However, with a career-low in innings pitched (56 ⅓) and a career-high in ERA (3.99), one has to wonder if Cincinnati would be getting top-value for one of the team's best relievers.

Steer has become somewhat of fan favorite since his debut, and his versatility makes him a valuable piece of this Reds' team. However, Steer plays below-average defense (which could impact his playing time heading into the 2025 season), and his overall numbers in 2024 were nowhere close to what was expected. After hitting .271/.356/.464 with 23 homers in 2023, Steer posted a .225/.319/.402 slash line with 20 round-trippers last season.

Reds' President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall has claimed that very few clubs are interested in trading for prospects this offseason and most teams are looking for major league talent. Both Díaz and Steer represent a redundancy on the Reds roster, so it's easy to see why Cincinnati may be looking to move one or both players in order to improve the roster.

Some of the top MLB insiders like ESPN's Jeff Passan, The Athletics' Ken Rosenthal, and FanSided's Robert Murray have yet to report that Díaz or Steer are being shopped this offseason, so there's reason to doubt these reports. That said, if either could bring back a controllable outfield bat, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Reds pull the trigger on such a deal.

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