Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Jul 17

Six MLB Teams Emerge as Aug. 3 Trade Deadline Sellers as Mets Put Nearly Entire Roster in Play

Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Jul 17

Six MLB Teams Emerge as Aug. 3 Trade Deadline Sellers as Mets Put Nearly Entire Roster in Play

Q: Why are the Reds eager to trade a controllable, power-hitting Gold Glove finalist like Spencer Steer?

The Reds’ logic is that Spencer Steer may be more valuable to them now as a trade chip than as a long-term roster piece. Cincinnati is selling and trying to exploit a market with strong demand for right-handed power. Steer fits that demand well: he has 14 homers, crushes left-handed pitching, can move around the diamond, and carries multiple years of club control. That combination makes him attractive to contenders and gives the Reds a chance to seek a meaningful return rather than wait. The hesitation on Cincinnati’s side is less about Steer’s current usefulness and more about how the club values him going forward. Industry reporting in the additional material describes him as more of a solid regular or super-utility player than a franchise cornerstone. For a small-market team, that matters because his arbitration salary is expected to rise sharply over the next two seasons. If the Reds do not view him as an impact bat, they may prefer to move him before he becomes significantly more expensive. There is also a roster-fit issue. The Reds have young position players and prospects they want to prioritize, and Steer does not have a perfectly settled everyday position. His versatility helps his trade value, but it can also signal that the club sees him as movable amid a crowded roster. So the push to trade Steer is not because he lacks value. It is because his current value on the market may exceed his future value to Cincinnati.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 17

Aug. 3’s trade deadline is shaping up with only six clear sellers — the Reds, Rockies, Royals, Angels, Mets and Giants — leaving much of the league still undecided.
Parity has thinned the market: Detroit is back within 3.5 games of a wild card, Minnesota is tied for a spot, and Boston’s nine-game surge has flipped the Red Sox from likely sellers to buyers.
New York stands out as the biggest potential mover at 41-57, with the Mets expected to listen on almost everyone except a small group of young players and Juan Soto; their bullpen may bring the best returns.
Los Angeles and San Francisco also hold notable chips, with the Angels drawing calls on controllable starters José Soriano and Reid Detmers, while the Giants could market Robbie Ray, Luis Arraez and relievers.
Several bubble teams — including the Padres, Blue Jays, Tigers and Diamondbacks — could still reshape the market over the next two weeks, making this deadline unusually fluid for contenders and sellers alike.