The Cincinnati Reds made a notable move official this afternoon, signing veteran infielder Eugenio Suárez to a one-year, $15 million deal that includes a mutual option for 2027. The addition brings a familiar face back into the fold, but it also came with a corresponding roster shakeup: catcher Ben Rortvedt has been designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.
Suárez’s return adds power and experience to a Reds infield that’s been trending younger in recent seasons. He’s a known quantity in Cincinnati - a former All-Star with a big bat and a flair for the dramatic. But while the headlines will focus on Suárez, the quieter part of today’s transaction is just as telling about how the Reds are shaping their roster heading into spring training.
Rortvedt, 28, had only been with the organization since November, when Cincinnati claimed him off waivers from the Dodgers. At the time, it looked like a low-risk depth play - a left-handed hitting catcher with major league experience and solid defensive tools.
But he was always going to be in a tough spot. With Tyler Stephenson and Jose Trevino already locked in as the team’s top two catchers, Rortvedt was essentially third on the depth chart with no minor league options remaining.
That’s a tough place to be when roster flexibility is at a premium.
Injuries are always a factor at the catcher position - few spots on the field take more physical punishment. Rortvedt might have had a path to stick around as injury insurance, but the signing of Suárez forced the Reds to make a decision, and Rortvedt was the odd man out.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for him. He’s been DFA’d before and has cleared waivers in the past, which could happen again here.
If he does clear, he’ll have the right to reject an outright assignment to the minors and test free agency instead. That’s an option players sometimes explore during the season, but it’s far more common in the offseason, when teams are still filling out depth charts and there’s more opportunity to land in a favorable situation.
Still, a return to the Reds isn’t entirely off the table. If Rortvedt clears waivers and chooses free agency, Cincinnati could always look to bring him back on a new deal - especially if they still see value in having a third catcher ready in case of injury.
In the end, this move is as much about roster math as it is about talent. The Reds are betting on Suárez to provide a spark, and in doing so, they’ve had to part - at least for now - with a player who was brought in as a just-in-case option. It’s a reminder of how quickly things can shift in the offseason, especially as teams finalize their rosters ahead of spring training.