Cincinnati Reds add needed power bat in Eugenio Suarez

Third baseman Eugenio Suarez spent seven years as a member of the Cincinnati Reds. He is reportedly returning for at least one more year.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that the Reds and Suarez have agreed to terms on a one-year, $15 million contract. There is also a mutual option for the 2027 season.

One of the premier power hitters in the game, Suarez had another solid year in 2025. He posted a .228/.298/.526 batting line in his 657 plate appearances between the Diamondbacks and Mariners, tying his career-high with 49 homers. Suarez slugged his way into the history books in 2025 as he became the 19th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game.

Eugenio Suarez adds another power threat to dangerous Cincinnati Reds roster

Suarez had initially been acquired by the Reds as part of the trade that sent pitcher Alfredo Simon to Detroit during the 2014-15 offseason. He had some of his best seasons in Cincinnati as he was an All-Star in 2018 and earned MVP votes in 2018 and 2019. Suarez had a .253/.335/.476 batting line in his 3730 plate appearances with the Reds, hitting 189 homers and 144 doubles.

Suarez was traded to the Mariners during spring training in 2022 and spent two seasons in Seattle before being acquired by the Diamondbacks. The Reds were among the teams interested in Suarez at the 2025 trade deadline before he returned to Seattle. Now that Suarez had lingered in free agency, the Reds were able to get the power bat they needed.

The Reds slipped into the postseason as the final wild card team due to a solid pitching staff fronted by Andrew Abbott, Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo. Their lineup was sorely missing a true power hitter as the Reds ranked 19th in the majors with a .706 OPS and 21st with 167 homers. That lack of firepower was a focal point of the offseason as the Reds had attempted to lure designated hitter/outfielder Kyle Schwarber to Cincinnati before he returned to the Phillies.

Suarez, who is expected to be primarily used as the Reds' designated hitter, gives the Reds that type of game-changing bat. His presence, along with star shortstop Elly De La Cruz and promising corner infielder Sal Stewart, should be a decided upgrade for a Reds team looking to contend once more in 2026.