Spencer Steer's surgery could quietly settle major Reds offseason debate

Cincinnati Reds utility player Spencer Steer has been sidelined since the end of July with a wrist injury. Despite his best efforts to get back onto the field through rest and rehabilitation, it now appears that he'll undergo surgery next week. This latest development will all but end any thought of trading Steer this offseason.

Steer's name was mentioned in multiple trade rumors as the August 3 deadline approached. His injury, however, put all the chatter to bed, and his upcoming surgery will shut down any talk of him being moved this winter.

Not only would the Reds be selling low on one of the top trade assets, but few (if any) organizations would be willing to risk trading away some of their top young talent for a player recovering from what's been described as a complicated surgery.

Spencer Steer's surgery virtually guarantees he'll return to the Reds in 2027

Steer suffered the injury during an at-bat against the St. Louis Cardinals in late-July. Though surgery was always an option, the Reds and Steer took a conservative approach with hopes of him returning to the field later this season. When that became an impossibility, the plan shifted to a potential stint in the Arizona Fall League.

But according to Reds manager Terry Francona, Steer took some pretty aggressive swings in the batting cage this past week, and "it kind of grabbed at him a little bit." He's now slated to undergo surgery next week in Arizona, and is expected to be back on the field in time for spring training.

Steer had another workman-like season in Cincinnati. Prior to being placed on the IL, he was hitting .238/.319/.421 with 16 home runs, 40 RBI, and a 104 OPS+. The 28-year-old had been an ironman of sorts since being traded to the Reds in 2022. His placement on the IL in July was the first time he's missed extended time in his career.

Steer will enter Year 2 of his salary arbitration window next season, and should receive a modest raise from the $4 million he earned in 2026. Wrist injuries pose a difficult recovery, however. Just ask Christian Encarnacion-Strand.

It took the former Reds slugger more than year to recapture the swing he had during his rookie season in Cincinnati. His struggles became so pronounced that he was designated for assignment earlier this year and then traded to the Baltimore Orioles. But Encarnacion-Strand has found new life with the O's; becoming their starting third baseman with 10 home runs and an .834 OPS.

The Reds will be hoping for Steer's recovery to go smoother, but the unknown nature of his recovery could alter their plans during the coming offseason.

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