Eugenio Suarez could be the answer to the Reds’ third base problems.
There has been considerable talk about a potential reunion between the Reds and Sonny Gray, but he’s not the only former player whose return could benefit Cincinnati. The uncertainty at third base, especially after Noelvi Marte’s disappointing season, could be addressed by bringing back Eugenio Suárez.
Whether the Arizona Diamondbacks will exercise Suárez’s club option for 2025 remains unclear. As recently as June, Arizona was open to trading the third baseman, as his first half of the season featured underwhelming stats, including a .216 batting average and 48 RBIs, leading the D-backs to question their decision to acquire him before the 2024 season.
However, Suárez’s second half has complicated matters. He dramatically improved, posting a .307/.341/.602 line since the All-Star break, helping keep Arizona in the Wild Card race until the end. In fact, his late-season performance was his best since 2019.
This puts Arizona in a tough position: which version of Suárez will they get in 2025? He showed promise during his two seasons in Seattle, hitting 53 home runs, but he’s also known for being a high-power, high-strikeout player, leading the NL in strikeouts during both seasons with the Mariners.
These characteristics might lead the D-backs to reconsider their commitment, as Suárez doesn’t seem to align with a team that excelled in batting average, on-base percentage, and had one of the fewest strikeout totals in the NL.
The issue is that Suárez may not align with the new approach of the Reds either. Team president Nick Krall and manager Terry Francona are advocating for a strategy focused on getting runners on base, advancing them, and driving them in, prioritizing line drives, patience, and hitting to all fields. Suárez, however, has a pull rate approaching 50%, which doesn’t fit that philosophy.
If the Diamondbacks decide to move on from Suárez, he would be owed a $2 million buyout and would enter the free-agent market. Outside of Alex Bregman, the options at third base are relatively limited, meaning Suárez could attract a substantial contract. The Reds have acknowledged that now is the time to invest, so perhaps a reunion with Suárez could be a good starting point.
