The Cincinnati Reds are bringing again a well-known face. The Reds and third baseman Eugenio Suárez have agreed to a one-year contract price $15 million, experiences ESPN. The deal features a mutual possibility for 2027. The staff has not but introduced the signing.
Suárez, 34, performed for the Reds from 2015-21 and had his biggest success in Cincinnati, together with a 49-homer season in 2019. He cut up final season between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners, hitting .228/.298/.526 with 49 homers. Suárez was significantly better earlier than the commerce (.897 OPS) than after (.682 OPS), which can have damage his market.
We ranked Suárez because the 14th-best free agent this offseason and was the highest hitter remaining in the marketplace getting into February. Right here’ the write-up:
Suárez is a min-max experiment on the plate. He hits the ball arduous, as evidenced by his second profession 49-homer season, and he takes his share of walks. All of the whereas, he ranked close to the underside of the majors in each whiff and strikeout price, one thing that may be attributed in half to his weak spot on pitches positioned up and in. Suárez will doubtless face scrutiny based mostly on his age (35 come July), protection (not nice), and right-handedness. When his bat goes, his spot on a roster will, too, at whitewater speeds. Till then, Suárez must discover a residence within the center of a lineup.
Ke’Bryan Hayes is owed $36 million by 2028 and is perhaps one of the best defensive third baseman within the sport. He will not be relegated to the bench to make room for Suárez. Suárez will virtually actually DH and maybe play some first base, which is able to minimize into taking part in time for incumbent first baseman Spencer Steer and prime prospect Sal Stewart. All three gamers are right-handed hitters.
The Reds snuck into the postseason by way of tiebreaker over the New York Mets final season. Their offense was missing at instances, nevertheless. They completed 14th in runs and twenty first in residence runs, which is not dangerous, however can actually be improved upon. Previous to Suárez, Cincinnati’s solely additions on offense this offseason have been platoon outfielders JJ Bleday and Dane Myers.
Final 12 months’s 83-79 end was the Reds’ finest since posting the identical report in 2021. It was their first postseason berth since 2020, and their first in a full 162-game season since 2013.
