Eugenio Suárez Returns to Cincinnati on One-Year Deal, Aiming to Power Reds Back to October
Eugenio Suárez is coming home.
The veteran slugger has agreed to a one-year, $15 million deal with the Cincinnati Reds, marking a return to the club where he became a fan favorite and one of the National League’s premier power threats. The deal includes a mutual option for 2027, reportedly worth $16 million-though, as we’ve seen time and again, mutual options rarely end up being exercised by both sides. The agreement is pending a physical and a corresponding move to clear a spot on Cincinnati’s 40-man roster.
Suárez, now 34 and represented by Octagon, rejoins a Reds team that’s looking to build off a 2025 playoff appearance. And while his return brings a wave of nostalgia to fans who watched him mash 189 homers in a Cincinnati uniform from 2015 to 2021, this move is much more than a sentimental reunion. It’s a calculated addition of proven power to a lineup that desperately needs it.
A Familiar Bat with Serious Pop
Suárez is coming off a rollercoaster of a 2025 season. He launched 49 home runs-matching his career high from 2019-and finished with a .228/.298/.526 slash line.
That’s the type of raw power that can change the shape of a lineup, even if it comes with some swing-and-miss. His strikeout rate sat at 29.8%, placing him in the fifth percentile across the league, and he posted a below-average walk rate for the second straight year.
But when he connects, the ball jumps. His hard-hit and barrel rates remain among the best in baseball.
That power surge came after a wild two-year stretch. Suárez struggled mightily to start 2024 with the Diamondbacks, posting just a .591 OPS over his first 315 plate appearances.
Then came the turnaround-an electric stretch from July 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025, where he slugged .593 and crushed 60 homers over 766 plate appearances. That midseason heater helped revive his value, even if he cooled off again after a trade to the Mariners at last year’s deadline.
Still, he managed to contribute some timely hits during Seattle’s deep postseason run to Game 7 of the ALCS.
So, which version of Suárez are the Reds getting? That question likely tempered his market this offseason.
Despite being ranked as the No. 20 free agent by MLB Trade Rumors-who projected him for a three-year, $63 million deal-he ended up settling for a one-year pact. Teams may have been hesitant to commit big dollars to a streaky, strikeout-prone veteran who’s entering his mid-30s and saw his defensive metrics at third base dip in 2025 (-6 Defensive Runs Saved, -3 Outs Above Average).
Still, the upside here is obvious. Suárez can carry a lineup when he’s locked in, and the Reds are betting on that version showing up in 2026.
Why Cincinnati Made Sense
Several teams were reportedly in the mix for Suárez, including the Cubs, Red Sox, and Pirates. Pittsburgh, in fact, was the other finalist and offered a two-year deal with a similar annual value. But Suárez chose Cincinnati, and it’s not hard to see why.
For one, he knows the organization. He knows the city.
And he knows what it feels like to hit bombs at Great American Ball Park, one of the most hitter-friendly stadiums in the league. But beyond the familiarity, there’s also a clear opportunity.
The Reds made the playoffs in 2025 largely on the strength of their pitching staff. Offensively, they were middle-of-the-pack across most metrics and ranked just 21st in home runs.
Their top two home-run hitters-Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer-combined for 43. Suárez hit more than that by himself.
That’s not just a boost; it’s a jolt of electricity to a lineup that lacked consistent thump.
And while the Pirates are a team on the rise, Cincinnati is already there. This is a club with postseason experience, a young core, and a real shot to contend again in 2026. For Suárez, it’s a chance to win now and re-establish himself as a top-tier bat heading into next winter’s free-agent market.
Where Does Suárez Fit?
The positional puzzle will be an interesting one for manager David Bell.
Ke’Bryan Hayes remains arguably the best defensive third baseman in the game, so Suárez is unlikely to see full-time action at the hot corner. Instead, expect him to get plenty of reps at designated hitter and possibly at first base-a position where he has just three career appearances, all coming last season. That’s a small sample, but the Reds will give him a look there in spring training to see how he handles the transition.
The first base/DH mix will also include Spencer Steer and prospect Sal Stewart. Steer has the versatility to play left field, where his right-handed bat could complement the lefty-hitting JJ Bleday. Stewart, meanwhile, can also handle second base, giving the Reds some flexibility as they sort out their best lineup combinations.
Before the Suárez signing, Bleday and Dane Myers were the only notable offensive additions this winter. They effectively replaced Austin Hays and Gavin Lux, the latter of whom was dealt to Tampa Bay in a three-team trade that brought reliever Brock Burke to Cincinnati. Suárez, then, is the Reds’ biggest offensive splash of the offseason-and a much-needed one at that.
What’s Next for Cincinnati?
Right now, the Reds’ projected payroll sits at around $126.1 million, a modest bump from last year’s $118.7 million figure. President of baseball operations Nick Krall said back in November that the team planned to spend “around the same” as in 2025, so this move could be the last major domino unless they find a way to shed salary elsewhere.
That said, the Reds’ financial picture could still shift depending on what happens with their broadcast situation. The ongoing uncertainty with Main Street Sports had reportedly delayed some moves earlier in the offseason. Whether Cincinnati has found clarity with MSS or is moving toward a new agreement with MLB remains unclear, but the Suárez signing suggests they’re comfortable enough to make a meaningful investment.
And make no mistake-this is a win-now move. The Reds are eyeing another run at October, and they just added a player who, when hot, can carry a team for weeks at a time.
Final Word
Eugenio Suárez is back in Cincinnati, and the timing feels right-for both sides.
For the Reds, it’s a chance to inject serious power into a lineup that needed it. For Suárez, it’s an opportunity to re-establish his value in a familiar setting, with a team that’s built to compete. The fit makes sense, the upside is real, and the Queen City just got a little louder.
If Suárez can recapture the form he showed during his best Reds years-or even during that torrid stretch from mid-2024 to mid-2025-this one-year deal could end up being one of the steals of the offseason.