The entire league passed on Eugenio Suárez when he hit waivers for a mere $3 million, and guess what? He’s gone absolutely nuclear ever since. You can bet more than a few MLB executives are kicking themselves right now, big time.
From Oblique Strain to Zero Offers: Geno’s Disappearing Act
Geno’s always been that streaky hitter, right? The guy who can carry a lineup for weeks with pure power, the kind of bat you bring back to bolster your chances at a second straight postseason run, which is exactly why the Reds gave him a $15 million deal. But man, 2026? It’s been rough. An oblique strain sidelined him for the longest stretch of his career, and that paired with missing time in spring training because he was repping Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. That’s a combo for a dismal season, no doubt.
Add in some slipping defense at third base, and suddenly, everyone went cold on Geno. August 3rd came and went, and Cincinnati couldn’t find a suitor; presumably, there simply weren’t enough offers, if any at all. They even threw him on waivers at the end of August, hoping someone would bite before the postseason roster deadline. Nope. Nobody. That roughly $3 million left on his contract? Apparently, it was too rich for the gamble. Geno was stuck in that Reds uniform on August 3rd, and he was still in it on August 4th.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: That Bat Woke Up
But hold up, because since August 4th, it’s like a different dude stepped onto the field. In just 30 games, 119 plate appearances, Geno’s been a monster. He’s slashing a robust .234/.378/.511 with an .889 OPS. Dude’s launched 7 homers and driven in 23 runs! Yeah, he’s still striking out like the guy who swings and misses more often than anyone. That’s Geno. He’s been doing that for a decade while socking dingers at a rate not seen across the sport, non-Judge edition. But get this, he’s added an eye, too. Those 19 strikeouts to 33 walks? That OBP? Tells you everything about how much more selective he’s become.
Too Little, Too Late for the Reds?
The bummer? Even Geno’s insane run hasn’t been enough for the ol’ Reds. They went into their August 3rd day off five games under the .500 mark, and today, September 7th, they woke up still five games under. Brutal. That’s not on him this time. His bat woke up, just like everyone knew it eventually would. And that’s why this whole thing has gotta be annoying as heck for those MLB execs who thought picking him up cheap would be a steal, and someone got out-voted in the final decision-making process. It’s not going to be a 2021 St. Louis Cardinals miracle finish, no way. But if Geno keeps going nuclear for these final three weeks? It’ll definitely make for an entertaining end to an otherwise moribund 2026 campaign for Cincinnati.
So, as the calendar inches closer to October, the Reds might not be playing for anything big, but you better believe every time Geno steps up to the plate, folks are gonna be watching. Can he keep this heater going and really make some GMs regret their August blunders even more? We’re gonna find out.
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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