The Milwaukee Brewers have made a habit of striking late in the offseason, scooping up free agents whose markets didn’t quite materialize the way they hoped. It’s a strategy that’s worked before - think back to 2019 when they landed Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas on one-year “prove-it” deals. More recently, it was Rhys Hoskins who joined Milwaukee on a similar structure: a short-term contract with upside for both sides after the market cooled on him.
It’s not hard to understand why the Brewers operate this way. They’re not in the business of handing out long-term, big-money contracts early in free agency.
That kind of financial risk - paying top dollar to a player who may be past his prime in a few years - just isn’t something Milwaukee can afford. But shorter-term deals?
That’s their sweet spot. One or two years of calculated risk for a player with upside?
That’s where the Brewers have found value.
Which is why the latest move by a division rival has caught the attention of Brewers fans.
On Thursday night, the Cincinnati Reds inked slugging third baseman Eugenio Suárez to a one-year, $15 million deal with a mutual option for 2027. The signing, first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, gives the Reds one of the most powerful bats left on the market - and leaves Brewers fans wondering why their team didn’t make a move.
It’s a fair question. Suárez wasn’t just a name floating around the rumor mill - he was a legitimate trade deadline target for Milwaukee last season.
And with the Brewers still lacking a true middle-of-the-order power threat, the fit seemed obvious. Suárez crushed 49 home runs last season across stints with Arizona and Seattle.
That kind of raw power doesn’t grow on trees - especially not in Milwaukee’s current lineup, which leans heavily on contact, speed, and chaos on the basepaths rather than brute strength.
So when a proven slugger like Suárez signs a short-term deal - and with a division rival, no less - it’s natural for Brewers fans to feel like they missed out.
But peel back the layers, and the Brewers’ decision starts to make more sense.
Yes, the power is real. Suárez barrels the ball with authority and has shown he can change a game with one swing.
But the red flags are hard to ignore. His strikeout numbers in 2025 were alarming - a 33.3% whiff rate and a 29.8% strikeout rate put him in the bottom 5% of hitters league-wide.
That’s not a fluke - it’s a trend. And while the home runs are eye-catching, the underlying metrics suggest that production may not be sustainable.
Defensively, Suárez is no longer the player he once was. He posted -6 Defensive Runs Saved and -3 Outs Above Average last season, signaling a sharp decline in his glove work.
For a Brewers team that prides itself on elite defense, that’s a tough fit - especially with Christian Yelich already locked in at DH. Finding a spot for Suárez in the field would’ve meant compromising the defensive identity Milwaukee has built.
And then there’s the value equation. Despite the 49 homers, Suárez was worth just 0.8 bWAR more than Caleb Durbin in 2025 - and Durbin played 23 fewer games. That’s a sobering stat for a player who just signed a $15 million deal.
So while it’s tempting to look at Cincinnati’s move and wonder what could’ve been, the Brewers’ front office likely saw the same things much of the league did: a powerful bat with real concerns, both at the plate and in the field. For a team that values precision over splash, it’s not surprising they passed.
None of this means Suárez won’t help the Reds. He absolutely could.
Cincinnati’s lineup just got more dangerous, and if Suárez keeps mashing, he’ll be a problem for NL Central pitchers. But for Milwaukee, this wasn’t just about adding power - it was about fit, risk, and long-term vision.
That’s the Brewers’ way. Calculated, cautious, and always looking for value in the margins. It might not make headlines in February, but it’s helped them stay competitive in a division that just got a little more interesting.