The Cincinnati Reds made one of the more intriguing moves of the offseason on Sunday, bringing back a familiar face - and a familiar power bat - in Eugenio Suárez. The veteran infielder is heading back to the Queen City on a one-year, $15 million deal, and for a Reds team looking to add some thump to its lineup, this reunion makes a lot of sense.
Suárez isn’t just any former Red - he’s a fan favorite who spent seven of his first eight big-league seasons in Cincinnati, launching plenty of moonshots and piling up memories along the way. Now, after stints with the Mariners and Diamondbacks in 2025, he’s back in a city he once called home - and maybe never fully left in spirit.
In fact, a video from 2022 has been making the rounds again since the news broke, showing Suárez telling reporters, “Maybe I finish here [Cincinnati], who knows?” Well, here we are. The Reds are giving him that chance.
A Power Boost for Cincinnati
Let’s talk about what this means on the field. The Reds needed power.
Badly. In 2025, they ranked just 21st in MLB in both home runs (167) and slugging percentage (.391).
That’s not going to cut it for a team trying to climb the ladder in the always-competitive NL Central.
Enter Suárez. His batting average last season - .228 - won’t turn heads, but his power production absolutely will.
He crushed 49 home runs in 2025, finishing fifth in the majors. That kind of pop is exactly what Cincinnati’s lineup has been missing.
Expect him to slot in primarily as a designated hitter, where he can focus on doing what he does best: punishing baseballs.
Suárez brings more than just numbers, though. He brings presence.
He brings leadership. And he brings a connection to the fanbase that few current Reds can match.
This is a move that adds both production and personality to the clubhouse.
Familiar Foe for the Brewers
Now, let’s shift the lens to the Milwaukee Brewers, who’ll be seeing plenty of Suárez again in 2026. And they know exactly what kind of threat he poses.
Over the course of his career, Suárez has logged 55 games and 230 plate appearances at American Family Field (formerly Miller Park), where he’s posted a .239/.322/.444 slash line with 12 home runs and 31 RBIs. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but they’re steady - and they remind us that he’s more than capable of doing damage in Milwaukee.
For the Brewers, who are looking to stay atop the NL Central, this reunion adds another dangerous bat to a division rival’s lineup. Suárez may be 34, but he’s still got the kind of power that forces pitchers to tread carefully - especially in hitter-friendly parks like Great American Ball Park and American Family Field.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a nostalgic signing. It’s a calculated move by the Reds to add a proven slugger to a lineup that needs more firepower.
Suárez brings that in spades. And for a team looking to make noise in 2026, bringing back a player who once helped define their identity could be the spark they need.
Welcome back, Geno. The NL Central just got a little more interesting.