The Cincinnati Reds seem prepared to present veteran slugger Eugenio Suárez a chance to complete the 2026 season with a contender.
In response to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Reds positioned Suárez and outfielder T.J. Friedl on outright waivers Thursday. The transfer permits any of the opposite 29 groups to say both participant whereas assuming the rest of his contract.
For Suárez, the choice might convey an abrupt finish to a reunion that started with appreciable optimism however by no means developed the way in which Cincinnati envisioned.
Reds Make Eugenio Suárez Out there to Contenders
Suárez returned to Cincinnati throughout the offseason on a one-year, $15 million contract that included a $16 million mutual choice for 2027. The Reds have been hoping the veteran third baseman and designated hitter might present a significant energy increase after his large 2025 marketing campaign.
As a substitute, Cincinnati has obtained an inconsistent season from the 35-year-old. Suárez is batting .208 with a .295 on-base share and .410 slugging share by means of 103 video games. He has contributed 19 dwelling runs and 57 RBI, however these numbers are effectively under what he produced a 12 months in the past.
An indirect harm that sidelined him for roughly a month additionally prevented him from discovering a lot early-season momentum.
The timing of the waiver information was notably noteworthy. On the identical day the transfer was reported, Suárez delivered certainly one of his greatest swings of the season, blasting a grand slam as Cincinnati erased a big deficit and defeated the San Francisco Giants 10-9.
Cincinnati improved to 63-71 with the victory and remained 9 video games behind the ultimate Nationwide League Wild Card spot. The Reds additionally sat 19.5 video games again within the NL Central, leaving little reasonable hope of a late postseason push.
With lower than $3 million remaining on Suárez’s contract for this season, a contender looking for one other energy bat might now purchase him with out Cincinnati having to barter a commerce.
Suárez Might Be an Intriguing Late-Season Addition
Though Suárez’s 2026 manufacturing has been disappointing, his latest monitor document makes him an attention-grabbing waiver candidate.
Suárez launched 49 dwelling runs in 2025 whereas posting a .526 slugging share, displaying that he was nonetheless able to being certainly one of baseball’s most harmful home-run threats coming into his mid-30s.
His longer-term numbers inform an identical story. From 2018 by means of 2025, Suárez hit 261 dwelling runs, the sixth-highest whole in Main League Baseball throughout that span. He additionally reached the 30-homer mark 4 occasions between 2021 and 2025.
There are apparent drawbacks for an membership. Suárez has persistently struck out at a excessive charge, and batting common has not been a power within the latter portion of his profession.
Although, a staff searching for right-handed energy, a delegated hitter choice or further depth at third base might view him as a comparatively cheap gamble for the ultimate weeks of the common season and probably the playoffs.
T.J. Friedl Additionally Hits Waiver Wire
Suárez isn’t the one veteran Cincinnati is making out there. Friedl was additionally positioned on outright waivers after experiencing a fair steeper offensive decline this season.
The 31-year-old outfielder owns a .158/.242/.234 slash line throughout 75 video games and lately endured an 0-for-30 stretch. That’s a dramatic change from 2025, when Friedl recorded a .364 on-base share and frequently occupied a spot close to the highest of Cincinnati’s batting order.
His offensive struggles have resulted in a diminished function because the Reds have given outfield alternatives to gamers together with J.J. Bleday, Dane Myers and Hector Rodriguez. Friedl has continued to supply defensive versatility in heart and left area, nonetheless, which might make him helpful to a staff searching for skilled outfield depth.
Friedl is owed a bit of greater than $700,000 for the rest of the season and is approaching his second 12 months of arbitration, making his long-term future with Cincinnati unsure no matter whether or not one other membership claims him.
The waiver course of now provides different groups 48 hours to make their selections on Suárez and Friedl. In the event that they go unclaimed, the Reds can retain the gamers or pursue one other roster transfer.
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