The trade buzz that was surrounding Cincinnati Reds utility player Spencer Steer has halted following him landing on the 10-day injury list with a right wrist sprain that occurred on Sunday. He is expected to miss significant time. 

The 28-year-old took an awkward swing and fouled off a pitch against starter Kyle Leahy of the St. Louis Cardinals on July 26 and exited the game after feeling severe discomfort in his wrist. 

Before the injury, the Seattle Mariners recently expressed interest in the Steer, who brought an appeal with his defensive versatility and right-handed power bat and held an elite 1.062 OPS against left-handed pitchers. 

The injury comes at an inconvenient time ahead of the upcoming Aug. 3 (6 p.m. ET) trade deadline.

Nature of Spencer Steer's injury and impact on the trade market

The plan for Steer is that he will be in a splint for the next two weeks, and with ample rest and treatment, the Reds hope that surgery won't be necessary. 

The nature of the injury is a partial tear of the sheath (part that protects the tendon) in his wrist. The fact that it's not a complete tear is a good sign, which should allow him to heal and possibly return this season. Steer will be re-examined in two weeks and, by that time, fans will likely get a clearer picture of when he will officially return. 

The Reds have recalled Ivan Johnson from Triple-A Louisville as a corresponding move to Steer landing on the IL.  Johnson has a .278 batting average, with 10 home runs and 11 stolen bases with a .373 on-base percentage in Triple-A this season.

Steer joins Shea Langeliers, who was another intriguing trade chip taken off the market because of a knee injury. 

In addition to the Mariners, the Yankees were also in the market for a right-handed hitting outfielder. Contenders in need of right-handed power and defensive flexibility will now face a more narrow market of available talent, which could inflate prices for buyers. The nature of Steers' injury also changes plans for the Reds, who will likely shift their attention to trading veterans such as Eugenio Suarez.