Reds open to trading veterans: Could Matt McLain or Spencer Steer be moved?

The Cincinnati Reds' president of baseball operations, Nick Krall, spoke to the media on Tuesday, breaking down the Reds' offseason plans. He talked about starting pitching, specifically Nick Lodolo, adding relief pitching, and the obvious topic of Elly De La Cruz. 

However, one of the more interesting things this offseason is the Reds' willingness to potentially trade veteran players on their current roster. While he didn’t name names, the obvious answers are players like Matt McLain and Spencer Steer.

McLain has been a big disappointment since his stellar rookie season, hitting .185 with a .608 OPS and 15 home runs in 2026. He also hit 15 home runs in 2025, with a .643 OPS. Cincinnati wouldn’t get much out of McLain, who hasn’t been able to pair his offense with his stellar defense at second base and his speed on the bases. 

It could be a case where the Reds trade McLain for an innings-eater starting pitcher in a change-of-scenery deal. A team like the Seattle Mariners could be a trade partner, as they are starting-pitching-rich and have expressed interest in offloading some rotation arms. That could be a great move for the Reds. 

Steer was rumored to be a trade candidate before the 2026 trade deadline for teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, who needed power. Steer then suffered a wrist injury that required surgery and ended his season. He’s been incredibly consistent for the Reds, and if he hadn’t been hurt, he likely would have hit 20 or more home runs for the fourth straight season. 

Steer is arbitration-eligible in 2027 and 2028 and is scheduled to be a free agent in 2029. Cincinnati could get a decent return for Steer, and if they trade him and get decent prospects, that could make an Elly De La Cruz trade less likely. 

Obviously, the Reds should try to move guys like Ke’Bryan Hayes and Jose Trevino; it’s just hard to imagine a team giving the Reds anything of value in exchange for the two historically bad offensive players. It feels like both of them will be designated for assignment. McLain and Steer make much more sense, as they have shown consistency in Steer's case and a ceiling in McLain's. 

Things could get crazy with so much uncertainty surrounding the lockout and collective bargaining negotiations. How teams choose to operate will be very interesting to follow.