Suárez returns to Reds as Cincy lands free-agent bopper (source)

CINCINNATI – Once a fan favorite with the Reds, Eugenio Suárez and his former club are reuniting for a second act that will give it the power bat it has been seeking all offseason.

The top free-agent hitter that was remaining on the market, Suárez has agreed to a one-year, $15 million deal with the Reds, with a $16 million mutual option for 2027 that has no buyout, a source told MLB.com. The team did not confirm the deal, which is pending a physical that is likely to happen early this week.

Suárez, 34, played mostly at third base for Cincinnati from 2015-21 and hit 49 home runs in ‘19. Because of a massive tear-down and rebuild after the ‘21 season, Suárez was traded to the Mariners during Spring Training ‘22, along with Jesse Winker, for four players that included Jake Fraley, Brandon Williamson and Connor Phillips.

For his second tour with the Reds, Suárez is expected to be primarily a designated hitter but also play first and third base. Cincinnati already has two-time National League Gold Glove Award winner Ke'Bryan Hayes at third base. Spencer Steer, who was an NL Gold Glove finalist at first, will play some in the outfield and have a utility role. Rookie and top prospect Sal Stewart is expected to have a similar role as Suárez as a DH and corner infielder.

Suárez showed last year that he can still hit home runs in bunches. The slugging third baseman tied his career high with 49 homers and batted .228 with an .824 OPS. He slugged 36 homers in just 106 games with the Diamondbacks before he was sent back to Seattle in a Trade Deadline blockbuster that netted Arizona three of the Mariners’ Top 30 prospects.

With the Mariners, Suárez cooled off, posting a .683 OPS in 53 regular-season games before closing the postseason strong. After going just 2-for-21 in his first five playoff games of 2025, he racked up eight hits in Seattle’s final seven games. He homered twice in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series vs. the Blue Jays, including the go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning.

Adding Suárez is an important boost for the Reds’ chances to contend again after they went 83-79 and nabbed the final NL Wild Card spot on the final day of the 2025 regular season. However, the club's offense was a weakness. It posted a 90 OPS+, which was 26th in Major League Baseball. Its .706 OPS was tied for 19th overall. The club was 21st with 167 home runs, and it was led by shortstop Elly De La Cruz with only 22.

The Reds made an effort to sign hometown area native Kyle Schwarber to a nine-figure deal before the lefty slugger ultimately returned to the Phillies in December on a five-year, $150 million contract.

According to a source, the Pirates were among the clubs that pursued Suárez this offseason. They were willing to offer more money and had the same offer on the table as the Reds. Ultimately, it appears, Suárez preferred to return to a team where he was a clubhouse leader and beloved by fans in Cincinnati.