The #Reds have acquired IF Spencer Steer (Twins No. 7 prospect according to MLB Pipeline), IF Christian Encarnacion-Strand (No. 23) and LHP Steven Hajjar (No. 18) from Minnesota in exchange for RHP Tyler Mahle.
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 2, 2022
Was told weeks ago by #stlcards official what a good fit Mahle would be for their needs but with asterisk: 'Not the kind of thing we do in the division.'
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) August 2, 2022
Prospect tally: Steer (97th in Top 100), Encarnacion-Strand (14th in MN Top 30), Hajjar (11th in MN Top 30). Control galore. https://t.co/sz4MtjJLXQ
Reds are sending Tyler Mahle to the Twins for a package of three prospects: INF Spencer Steer (No. 4 in Twins' system via Baseball America's rankings), LHP Steven Hajjar (No. 11) and 3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand (No. 14). https://t.co/AdfULLVtYc
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) August 2, 2022
These three players boast some pretty insane stats right now:
Quote:Steer had a .269 batting average and a .361 on-base percentage in 83 games between Double-A and Triple-A this year with 23 doubles, 20 homers and 62 RBI. The 24-year-old has experience at shortstop, third base and second base, and he’s known for his contact-oriented approach with 42 walks to 66 strikeouts.
Hajjar, a 21-year-old listed at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, had a 2.47 ERA in 12 starts at Single-A with 71 strikeouts and 22 walks in 43 2/3 innings. Opposing hitters have a .168 batting average against him.
Encarnacion-Strand, 22, was batting .302 with 25 doubles, 25 homers and 85 RBI in 87 games between High-A and Double-A. He's a 6-foot, 224-pound right-handed hitter with a .374 on-base percentage.
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2022/08/02/reds-trade-tyler-mahle-minnesota-twins-ahead-trade-deadline/10181687002/
All three of these players seem to be ascending players, as their stats do not match their rankings in the Twin's systems. I think all three are in the midst of break out seasons, so you could argue the Twins are selling high on them. They are in the early 20s, so there isn't as much projection required for these 3 as there were for the prospects from the Naquin and Castillo trades, but they certainly seem like solid additions to the farm system and could be up in the majors within a year or 2.