When Eugenio Suárez signed a one-year, $15 million deal to return to the Cincinnati Reds, it wasn’t just a missed opportunity for the Pittsburgh Pirates - it was a moment of clarity.
This time, the Pirates weren’t outbid. They were right there, dollar for dollar.
According to reports, they matched the average annual value and were even open to going beyond that - both in years and in dollars. And still, Suárez chose Cincinnati.
A division rival. A hitter-friendly ballpark.
A place he knows well.
That kind of decision says a lot - not just about Suárez, but about where the Pirates stand.
For years, Pittsburgh’s front office has leaned on a familiar refrain when it comes to missing out on impact bats: “We can’t outspend the big markets.” And often, that’s true.
But this time, there was no financial mismatch. No bidding war.
The Pirates were in it. They were serious.
And they still didn’t land their guy.
That’s not just a loss. That’s a message.
Suárez didn’t pass on Pittsburgh because of money. He passed because of everything else - the roster, the ballpark, the competitive outlook.
That’s the part that stings. And it should.
This was the second time this offseason the Pirates came close to adding a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat and came up empty. Close might count in horseshoes and hand grenades, but it doesn’t help a lineup that still needs thump.
And here’s the thing: if you were ready to spend $15 million on a 34-year-old third baseman looking to reset his value, then that money should still be in play. It didn’t vanish when Suárez chose Cincinnati.
It’s still sitting there, unspent. And that’s where the pressure shifts.
Because now fans know - not think, not hope, but know - that the Pirates have the money to spend. They saw it.
They offered it. And if that $15 million doesn’t get redirected into real upgrades, then the front office isn’t just missing on players - it’s missing the moment.
This isn’t about Suárez anymore. It’s about accountability.
Ben Cherington and his staff made it clear they were willing to invest in this roster. And if Suárez wasn’t the right fit, fine. But that same level of commitment needs to show up somewhere else - whether it’s another bat, a multi-year deal that signals belief in the core, or a handful of smaller moves that shore up the team’s soft spots.
What the Pirates can’t do is let that money sit and call the offseason “aggressive.” Not after this. Not when the need is still so obvious, and the willingness to spend has already been made public.
Because now, it’s not just about who they didn’t sign - it’s about what they do next.
The Pirates showed their hand. They told the baseball world - and more importantly, their fans - that they’re ready to invest in winning. Now it’s time to prove it.
Spring training is around the corner. The roster isn’t finished. And that $15 million is still waiting to be turned into production.
The clock’s ticking.