The Cincinnati Reds made a move that probably has a lot of Mariners fans scratching their heads: they placed former Seattle slugger Eugenio Suárez on outright waivers this Thursday morning, along with center fielder TJ Friedl. This isn’t some minor league shuffle either; we’re talking about a two-time All-Star with some serious power now looking for a new home, at least potentially.
Geno Goes From Clutch To Cut? You Gotta Wonder.
It feels like just yesterday Suárez was mashing bombs for us. Remember 2025? The guy tied his career high with an incredible 49 home runs and drove in a career-best 118 RBIs in a year split between our beloved Mariners and the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was a force! Now, at 35 years old and back with the Reds, his 2026 numbers just aren’t matching up. He’s only got 19 homers and 57 RBIs, slashing .208/.295/.410 with a -0.4 WAR over 410 plate appearances. That’s a significant dip, sure, but what really blows my mind is that this move comes right after he hit a grand slam on Wednesday! Yeah, a grand slam that capped off a miraculous seven-run ninth-inning comeback against the San Francisco Giants, the biggest ninth-inning rally in Reds franchise history since 1958. How do you waive a guy who just did that?
His contract is a factor, no doubt. Suárez is on a one-year, $15 million deal, with a $16 million mutual option for 2027. He’s still due about $3 million for the rest of this season. It’s a chunk of change, and a team claiming him would absorb that. But for a proven veteran, a two-time All-Star who just flashed his power in a historic moment? You’d think there would be more options.
Friedl’s Tough Season, Reds In Last Place: What’s Really Going On?
Then there’s TJ Friedl, 31 years old and a Red for his entire six-year career. His 2026 season has been rough, no two ways about it. He’s put up career lows across the board with just three home runs, 11 RBIs, five stolen bases, and a brutal .158/.242/.234 slash line, netting a -0.9 WAR. Compare that to his 2023, when he logged 18 homers, 27 stolen bases, and a .279 average. The guy can play center field, too, boasting five defensive runs saved this season. He drove in 53 runs in 2025, but those offensive numbers are clearly a problem, and the Reds are reportedly “unlikely” to offer him a contract next season, even though he’s under team control through 2028. He’s due about $700,000 for the rest of the year.
The Reds are sitting in last place in the NL Central with a 63-71 record, so it makes sense they’re trying to shake things up. When a player goes on waivers, another team has 48 hours to claim them and take on their contract. If no one bites, they stay on Cincinnati’s payroll. But for a team dead last in their division, these moves look like a desperate attempt to clear the deck and try something new. It leaves a big question mark over what’s next for both players, especially for Suárez after his unexpected return to the waiver wire.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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