Eugenio Suarez and the Cincinnati Reds have reached an agreement on a one-year contract worth $15 million, according to two sources familiar with the discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on Sunday night. The sources requested anonymity as the deal was still pending a physical and had not yet been officially announced.
Suarez, a two-time All-Star and one of the top power hitters remaining on the free-agent market, is making a return to Cincinnati where he spent seven seasons. From 2015 to 2021, he hit 189 home runs for the Reds, including a remarkable 49 in 2019.
This acquisition provides the Reds with the reliable power bat they have been seeking during the offseason. At 34 years old, Suarez has played mainly as a third baseman throughout his 12-year major league career, but he is expected to primarily serve as Cincinnati’s designated hitter, with occasional appearances at third or first base. The Reds already have Gold Glove third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes and a promising prospect, Sal Stewart, projected to play first base.
While many teams showed interest in Suarez at last year’s trade deadline, the Reds were reluctant to trade a top prospect. Suarez was traded from Arizona to Seattle on July 31, finishing the season with 49 home runs (fifth in MLB) and 118 RBIs (fourth), despite a batting average of .228 and an OPS of .824.
The Mariners fell to Toronto in the American League Championship Series, just one win shy of making their first World Series appearance. Suarez made a significant impact in Game 5, hitting two home runs including an eighth-inning grand slam.
Since its opening in 2003, Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park has averaged 2.67 home runs per game, ranking second among MLB stadiums hosting at least 1,200 games for home run frequency.
Suarez was originally traded from the Reds to Seattle during spring training in 2022, spending two seasons with the Mariners before a trade to the Diamondbacks. He debuted in the majors with Detroit in 2014 and holds a career batting average of .246, with 325 home runs, 949 RBIs, and an OPS of .792.
AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum also contributed to this story.
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Fan Take: While this news is about baseball, it highlights the ongoing importance of strategic player moves that resonate across all sports, including basketball. Fans should pay attention to how star power and team dynamics shape success, as similar strategies are key in building championship contenders on the basketball court.
