With the MLB trade deadline one week away, the Philadelphia Phillies have some very clear needs. The bullpen and the starting rotation are important needs to resolve, but so too is the team's right-handed hitting outfield spot.
After losing Adolis Garcia to a season-ending injury, the Phillies' need for a right-handed-hitting outfielder exploded. Bryan De La Cruz and Derek Hill have been serviceable in reserve roles, but ideally, this team adds a true star from the right side of the plate.
However, according to ESPN's Buster Olney , the Phillies got some terrible news on the availability of one of their best trade targets, Cincinnati Reds right-handed hitting utilityman Spencer Steer.
"Spencer Steer is an experienced right-handed hitter with positional versatility, and in some respects, he might've been the Reds' best trade asset," Olney reports. "But he suffered a hand/wrist injury in Sunday's game that will prompt Cincinnati to place him on the injured list, and he's going to miss a significant period of time."
Steer is a 28-year-old utilityman who can play in the outfield or infield, and is under club control through the 2028 MLB season. He was also someone likely to be at the center of trade rumors this summer.
But now, the Phillies and all other interested teams probably have to give up a pursuit of the righty-hitting slugger, as the Reds probably aren't going to trade him now due to this injury.
If he were a rental, Steer might've been on the move. But, he's under control for a while longer, and there's no reason for the Reds to sell low on him now that he's hurt.
The Phillies would've been a great fit for Steer, as the right-handed hitter has 16 home runs and a .739 OPS, which would be a significant upgrade over most of their right-handed hitting outfield options.
Most importantly, against left-handed pitching, Steer has a 1.062 OPS this season with a .442 on-base percentage. At worst, he would've been a perfect platoon bat for the Phillies.
But now, with this injury update from Olney, Steer isn't a viable option at all. It's some bad news for the Phillies, as an already barren righty-hitting outfield trade market just lost another potential target.
