3 players the Reds could DFA in order to make room for Spencer Steer

If the Cincinnati Reds have any plans to call up Spencer Steer in the near future, they'll need to make room. Not only on the 40-man roster, but also in the everyday lineup. If Steer is deemed ready for the big leagues, then just like Jose Barrero, he needs to play almost every day.

Steer was part of the trade with the Twins that sent Tyler Mahle to join his former teammate Sonny Gray in Minnesota. Steer, Steve Hajjar, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand were part of the return for Mahle's services.

Steer has hit the ground running since joining the Cincinnati Reds organization. The 24-year-old has shown versatility as a fielder and the ability to get on base with regularity. For those fans looking for the type of player who puts the ball in play, Steer is your guy.

With regulars like Joey Votto and Tyler Stephenson out for the rest of the 2022 season, now is the perfect time to elevate Steer to the majors and allow him to get his feet wet. But which players could be designated for assignment (DFA'd) in order to get Steer's bat into the lineup?

1. Reds could DFA Matt Reynolds in order to make room for Spencer Steer.

This is an option, but it doesn't feel like the smartest one. Matt Reynolds could be described much like those throughout Reds Country like to refer to fellow infielder Kyle Farmer; he's a ballplayer. Reynolds has paid his dues and fought his tail off to get to where he's at but the 31-year-old is out of minor league options.

Reynolds isn't going to wow you with his slash line, but the former New York Mets infielder is a versatile defender. With Joey Votto out for the remainder of the 2022 season, Reynolds may be the right-handed hitting first baseman that David Bell turns to when there's a southpaw on the bump.

Reynolds is under team control through the 2026 season and is still pre-arbitration eligible. Still, with an OPS of just .655, you really have to wonder what the Reds would be missing if they decided to designate Matt Reynolds for assignment.

If Cincinnati has no intent of keeping Reynolds on the offseason roster, then it's foolish to hang on to him with Spencer Steer ready to make his debut. But it's not as if Reynolds is anything more than a bench bat, so would moving on from the former second-round pick really open up a spot for Steer to play every day?