When Eugenio Suárez signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Cincinnati Reds - with a $16 million mutual option for 2027 - it wasn’t just a reunion. It was a reminder: power still sells in today’s game.
Suárez, one of the more prolific sluggers available this offseason, is heading back to where he made his name after a few seasons elsewhere. And while his game comes with some clear caveats - high strikeout totals, a late-season fade in 2025, and the fact that he’s now 34 - that kind of raw power doesn’t come cheap.
Or maybe, in this case, it actually did.
For Mets fans, Suárez’s deal with Cincinnati offers a few takeaways - not because New York missed out on him, but because it shows where their priorities lie and what it might mean for the roster moving forward.
1. The Mets were never eyeing Suárez as a first base option
Let’s start with the obvious: if the Mets wanted Suárez, they could’ve made it happen. A $15 million deal is well within their spending range, especially considering they just handed Jorge Polanco $20 million for 2026. That tells us the Mets never saw Suárez as a fit - not at third, and certainly not at first.
Instead, they’re betting on Polanco, who’s still learning the position. He only got a taste of first base in pregame warmups with the Mariners last year - coincidentally while sharing the infield with Suárez.
The Mets are clearly banking on versatility and upside over raw power. Polanco’s approach at the plate has evolved, particularly with improvements in his strikeout rate.
Suárez, meanwhile, remains who he’s always been: a boom-or-bust bat with a big swing and a lot of whiffs.
From a roster construction standpoint, it’s a philosophical choice. The Mets want more contact, more flexibility, and perhaps more long-term upside. Suárez might’ve been a short-term jolt, but New York is thinking differently.
2. Don’t expect a Mark Vientos trade with Cincinnati
If there was ever a time to link Mark Vientos to the Reds, it’s passed. Suárez and Vientos share a lot of similarities - big-time power, high strikeouts, and limited defensive versatility.
In many ways, Suárez is what the Mets hope Vientos can become: a legitimate 40+ home run threat. Suárez has done it twice, most recently in 2025 when he mashed 49.
But now that Cincinnati has brought back their veteran slugger, there’s no room - or need - for a Vientos-type player on their roster. That doesn’t mean Vientos is off the trade block entirely, but it does mean the Reds are likely out as a potential landing spot.
For Mets fans hoping for a late-offseason deal to clear up the infield logjam or bring in pitching depth, scratch Cincinnati off the list.
3. With Suárez off the board, other teams might start calling the Mets
The ripple effect of Suárez signing in Cincinnati? Teams that were in the market for a third baseman are now scrambling.
Clubs like the Red Sox and Pirates had been linked to Suárez as potential fits. With that option gone, they could pivot to younger, controllable talent - and that’s where the Mets come in.
Brett Baty is a name to watch. While he’s currently penciled in as the Mets’ starting left fielder in 2026 - assuming Carson Benge doesn’t take the job in spring - his natural position is third base. If a team like Boston or Pittsburgh comes calling with the right offer, the Mets might be tempted to make a move.
It would certainly shake up expectations heading into camp. Baty’s future in New York has felt uncertain at times, especially with the Mets juggling multiple young infielders and corner bats. If the right deal presents itself, the front office might see an opportunity to address other needs - whether that’s pitching depth or outfield reinforcements.
Bottom line: Suárez’s return to Cincinnati isn’t just a feel-good reunion story. It’s a move that subtly reshapes the market and offers some insight into how the Mets are thinking this offseason.
They passed on a proven slugger. They’re betting on versatility, development, and internal growth.
And with the hot corner market thinning out, they might be in a position to deal from strength. Stay tuned - spring training might bring more than just position battles.