Geno returns to Seattle hoping to stay a Red as Deadline nears 

SEATTLE — Eugenio Suárez was back in Seattle on Monday, a city where he was beloved by fans during two separate stints with the Mariners. Suárez isn't ready to end his second tour with the Reds as the Trade Deadline approaches.

The third baseman/designated hitter would like to stick around after the Aug. 3 Deadline.

“Yeah, that’s my hope," Suárez said. "You never know. I have been in this situation a couple of times already, and I try to not think too much about it. I just do my best on the field, try to help my team win games. I will be ready for whatever happens. I’m not that guy who thinks too much about what’s going to happen.

"Whether I’m going or if I stay, I will keep doing my best for Cincinnati. If I go, I will do my best for the team that takes me on. Obviously, I don’t want to leave. I don’t like it. But it is what it is. I understand the business and I will let the front office do their job.”

Suárez, 35, returned to Seattle at the Trade Deadline last season when he was traded by the Diamondbacks and helped the Mariners reach and advance in the playoffs. He was with the Mariners from 2022-23 after the Reds dealt him during Spring Training '22.

A Reds star from 2015-21, Suárez was brought back as a free agent to help Cincinnati contend for the playoffs when he was signed to a one-year, $15 million contract with a $16 million mutual option for 2027.

But with the last-place Reds way back in the NL Central standings, it's quite likely they will be Deadline sellers.

After tying his career high with 49 home runs last season, Suárez entered Monday batting .210 with a .680 OPS, 12 homers and 36 RBIs in 70 games. He was also on the injured list from April 23 to May 22 with a left oblique strain.

“This season has been like a roller coaster, back and forth, back and forth," Suárez said. "I do my best every time that I’ve had the opportunity to put the uniform on and am doing it for Cincinnati this season. It’s very special [to be] back in the city where I built my career. Now to wear that uniform again and do that for the city is very special.

“This year has been really nice. It’s not over yet, and I hope and I pray for better situations for me and my team and for the organization that I play for right now.”

Suárez has gotten hotter lately. He homered in three straight games from July 11-12, and post-All-Star break on July 17.

“Right now, I’m starting to feel a lot better," he said. "My swing is in there. I just don’t want to try too much and put more pressure than this game already has on myself. I just try to do my best and my swing is going to be there at some point.”