Eugenio Suárez was just a few days shy of the trade deadline, sitting right there in T-Mobile Park, kicking it with his old media buddies from Seattle and Cincinnati. And what did he do? He dropped a bombshell: he declared his absolute love for Cincinnati and straight-up said he wanted to stay put for the rest of the season. Turns out, his wish was granted, and the Reds basically took a “talk-to-the-animals” approach, doing nothing at the deadline. Wild, right?
He Got His Wish, But Those Numbers Are Louder Than a Foghorn
So, the Reds kept their guy, the dude who was traded to Seattle by Arizona a year ago. But let’s be real, while Suárez got his wish to stick around, the numbers he was putting up before the deadline weren’t exactly screaming “must-have All-Star.” He was hitting a dismal .200 without a ton of home runs or RBIs. Even he admitted it, straight up, “When you see my numbers, it’s not very likely for people to want to have (that) hitter.” Last year, he was mashing, 36 of his 49 homers came with Arizona. This year? Not so much.
He credited a slow start and a first-half oblique injury for his struggles, but it definitely cooled any trade interest. Still, there’s a glimmer of hope: he’s feeling “really good” health-wise and “comfortable at the plate” these days. In his last 24 games, wrapping up with that Chicago road trip where the Reds took two of three from the White Sox, Suárez has actually blasted half of his 18 home runs. Add in four doubles and nine walks, and you can see a guy starting to find his rhythm.
That $16 Million Question Is Looming Large
But the story doesn’t end with this season. Suárez has his sights set on 2027 too. “That’s my goal,” he said. There’s a $16 million mutual option for next season, tied to the one-year, $15 million deal he’s on right now. Here’s the kicker: that’s a boatload of cash for the Reds to shell out for a 35-year-old designated hitter, especially given his pre-deadline performance.
And it gets even trickier when you consider the Reds’ front office has to figure out how to backfill for All-Star pitcher Hunter Greene, who’s missing the entire 2027 season after a second Tommy John surgery. That’s a $15 million salary hit they’re looking at. Suárez knows what’s up, saying, “God is good.” He echoed his sentiments from when he was here in Seattle, “I said in Seattle that I don’t want to leave the team. This was the team that gave me the opportunity to come back and help them win. And I just want to stay and do my best for them and help them win games. I’m very glad that I can stay and finish my season with them.”
So, what’s next? Suárez has about six weeks left in the season to absolutely light it up and make a compelling case for that $16 million option. He’s got to prove he’s worth the dough, especially for a team needing to manage their books after the Greene news. Every swing, every RBI, every homer he hits from here on out is a pitch for his future. The clock is ticking, and the whole league, especially anyone who remembers him here in the Emerald City, will be watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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