On Sunday night, the Cincinnati Reds finally made their first significant move of the offseason, agreeing to a one-year, $15 million deal with slugger Eugenio Suárez. The contract also includes a mutual option for 2027 at $16 million. It’s a notable pickup, especially considering Suárez was coming off a monster season-49 home runs and 118 RBIs-and many around the league expected him to command both a longer-term deal and a higher annual salary.
For a Reds team that desperately needed a bat, this signing checks an important box. Heading into the offseason, Cincinnati’s offense looked like a glaring weak spot.
Despite boasting the best ERA+ in baseball last year, their lineup lacked the kind of firepower needed to support that elite pitching staff. The Reds barely squeaked into the postseason in 2025, and up until now, their offseason had been quiet-more about maintaining the status quo than making a leap forward.
Enter Suárez.
Now, let’s be clear: expecting him to replicate 49 homers is a stretch. That kind of production is rarefied air, even for someone with Suárez’s track record as one of the game’s more consistent power hitters over the past seven seasons.
He’s not Aaron Judge, but he doesn’t have to be. What the Reds need is a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat, and Suárez still fits that bill.
Yes, there are some red flags. His batting average has dipped in recent years, and his walk rate has taken a noticeable hit over the past two seasons.
But the power? Still very real.
And that’s exactly what Cincinnati is banking on.
The advanced projections agree. ZiPS had Suárez pegged for a .214/.294/.424 line with 30 home runs and 24 doubles if he had stayed in Seattle.
But the move to Great American Ball Park-a much more hitter-friendly environment-boosts his outlook significantly. Now, he’s projected to slash .236/.313/.478 with 35 home runs and 23 doubles.
That’s a 106 OPS+, which puts him solidly above league average and instantly makes him one of the most dangerous bats in Cincinnati’s lineup.
To put that in perspective, no Reds player has hit more than 25 home runs in a season since 2021. That year, Joey Votto went deep 36 times, Nick Castellanos added 34, and Suárez himself chipped in 31 before being traded.
Since then, the power has been sporadic at best. In 2025, Elly De La Cruz led the team with just 22 homers.
Health played a role in that power drought. Both De La Cruz and Spencer Steer showed flashes of big-time pop, but injuries limited their consistency. The Reds are also hoping for a full season from Sal Stewart, who only got a month of action last year but showed intriguing upside.
Add all that up, and the picture becomes clearer. If Suárez can stay healthy and deliver something close to those 30-35 home runs, he could be the catalyst this offense has been missing.
He doesn’t need to carry the entire load-he just needs to be a reliable source of power in the heart of the order. Combined with bounce-back seasons from their young core, Suárez’s presence could elevate this Reds lineup from a liability to a legitimate weapon.
It’s only one move, but it’s a meaningful one. And for a team looking to build on a playoff appearance and capitalize on elite pitching, it might be just the spark they need.