Suárez Returns to the Reds! Cincinnati Signs Their Desired Power Hitter in the Offseason

Beloved by fans, Eugenio Suárez is reuniting with his former team, the Cincinnati Reds. This power hitter’s comeback will bolster the long-ball strength the team has been seeking throughout the offseason.

According to MLB’s official site, the strongest remaining hitter on the free agent market has agreed to a one-year contract with the Reds worth $15 million, including a mutual option for 2027 valued at $16 million with no buyout fee. The team has yet to officially confirm the deal, which is expected to be finalized after a physical exam possibly scheduled for early this week.

Now 34 years old, Suárez primarily played third base for the Reds from 2015 to 2021 and hit 49 home runs in 2019. Following a major team rebuild after the 2021 season, Suárez and Jesse Winker were traded to the Seattle Mariners during spring training in 2022. In return, the Reds received players including Jake Fraley, Brandon Williamson, and Connor Phillips.

During his second stint with Cincinnati, Suárez is expected to serve mainly as a designated hitter, while also covering first and third base defensively. The Reds currently have two-time National League Gold Glove winner Ke’Bryan Hayes at third base. Spencer Steer, a finalist for last season’s NL Gold Glove at first base, will shift some playing time to the outfield and take on a utility role. Top prospect Sal Stewart is anticipated to have a similar role to Suárez’s, filling in as a designated hitter and corner infielder.

Suárez demonstrated last season that he can still consistently hit home runs. The power-hitting third baseman matched his personal single-season career high with 49 homers, posting a batting average of .228 and an OPS of .824. Before being traded back to the Mariners in a major deadline deal, he hit 36 home runs in just 106 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks. That trade brought the Diamondbacks three top-30 ranked prospects from the Mariners’ farm system.

After returning to Seattle, Suárez’s performance dipped, with an OPS of only .683 over 53 regular-season games. However, he finished strong in the playoffs. Following a slow start in the first five playoff games in 2025 (just 2 hits in 21 at-bats), he recorded eight hits in the Mariners’ final seven games. In Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, he hit two home runs, including a crucial go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning.

For the Reds, signing Suárez represents a significant upgrade to their competitiveness. Cincinnati finished the 2025 season with an 83-79 record, clinching the last National League wild card spot on the final day of the regular season. Yet, the team’s offense remained a weakness: their OPS+ of 90 ranked 26th in MLB, an OPS of .706 tied for 19th, and the team’s total of 167 home runs placed them 21st. Even the team leader in homers, shortstop Elly De La Cruz, managed only 22.

Previously, the Reds attempted to sign hometown star Kyle Schwarber with a nine-figure contract, but the left-handed power hitter ultimately returned to the Philadelphia Phillies in December with a five-year, $150 million deal.

Sources reveal that the Pittsburgh Pirates were among the teams pursuing Suárez during this offseason. They were willing to offer a higher bid with terms matching those of the Reds. However, Suárez appeared to prefer returning to Cincinnati, where he had been a clubhouse leader and remained deeply cherished by the fans.