Blue Jays analyst pitches trade sending catcher Brandon Valenzuela to Reds

TORONTO · A Toronto Blue Jays analyst has floated a trade proposal that would send catcher Brandon Valenzuela to the Cincinnati Reds for utility hitter Spencer Steer. The one-for-one swap would address Toronto's need for offensive pop and Cincinnati's catching situation. Avery Chenier of The Gate 14 Podcast made the pitch, describing Steer as a versatile right-handed bat. The Blue Jays have a surplus at catcher with Alejandro Kirk under contract.

"Spencer Steer, a utility guy who can play all over, is the type of guy Ross likes," Chenier said on the podcast. "Righty again, wrist surgery at the end of the year, should be ready for Opening Day. In return, the Reds get Brandon Valenzuela. Tyler Stephenson is a free agent; they don't know what their catching situation is." Chenier added that Steer is great against left-handed pitching and called the idea a perfect fit.

Steer, 29, hit .238 with 16 home runs and 40 RBIs in 98 games last season. He has hit 20 or more home runs in three of his five major league seasons. Valenzuela, 25, hit .222 with nine home runs and 23 RBIs in his first full big-league campaign. His primary value lies in his elite defensive skills.

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Valenzuela was a Gold Glove Award finalist in his rookie season, posting nine Defensive Runs Saved in just over 618 innings. He is widely regarded as one of the best defensive catchers in the game, with a strong arm and excellent pitch-framing abilities. The Blue Jays have Kirk locked up as their primary catcher, which could make Valenzuela a trade candidate to address other roster needs. The logic for Cincinnati, as outlined by Chenier, is their uncertain catching situation with Tyler Stephenson entering free agency. Valenzuela would provide them with a starting-caliber defender behind the plate. For Toronto, Steer would add a right-handed power bat and positional flexibility, capable of playing second base and the outfield.

Chenier even framed Steer as a better-hitting version of current Blue Jays utility player Ernie Clement. The proposal has been discussed among segments of the fanbase, though it is not an official team proposal. The Athletic's Mitch Bannon has reported that the Blue Jays do not view Valenzuela as a mere trade chip, suggesting the team values him highly. An analysis from Blue Jays Insider argued that trading Valenzuela for Steer would be a mistake, comparing it to selling a spare tire to buy a nicer radio. The piece noted that Kirk played only 79 games last season and that a team that just won a collective Gold Glove should be wary of dealing its best defensive catcher. It concluded that if general manager Ross Atkins moves Valenzuela, it should be for a greater return than a utility bat.

With files from Blue Jays Insider