Eugenio Suárez Secures $15 Million One‑Year Contract with Cincinnati Reds
Updated (3 articles)
Deal announced on Feb. 2, 2026, pending physical The 34‑year‑old third baseman agreed to a one‑year, $15 million contract with the Reds, with terms kept private at the request of both parties and reported by the Associated Press. The agreement was confirmed on February 2, 2026, and will become official after a routine physical examination. [1]
Market‑top power hitter and two‑time All‑Star Suárez entered free agency as the highest‑priced slugger still available, having earned two All‑Star selections and posting a career .246 average with 325 home runs, 949 RBI and a .792 OPS. His seven‑year stint with Cincinnati (2015‑2021) produced 189 homers, including a career‑high 49 in 2019. These credentials underpin the Reds’ willingness to invest heavily in his power potential. [1]
Primary designated hitter with occasional corner‑infield duties Cincinnati plans to use Suárez mainly as a designated hitter while allowing him to fill in at third base or first base as needed. The roster already features Gold Glove third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes and top prospect Sal Stewart projected for first base, limiting Suárez’s everyday defensive role. [1]
Recent postseason impact with Seattle In the 2025 ALCS, Suárez delivered two home runs in Game 5, including an eighth‑inning grand slam, though the Mariners ultimately fell to Toronto and missed the World Series. His clutch hitting in the playoffs highlighted his value as a power bat entering free agency. [1]
Cincinnati’s ballpark favors home runs Great American Ball Park averages 2.67 home runs per game since its 2003 opening, ranking second‑highest among MLB parks with at least 1,200 games, a factor that could amplify Suárez’s power output. [1]
Timeline
2003 – Great American Ball Park opens in Cincinnati, later ranking second‑highest in home‑run frequency with 2.67 homers per game among MLB parks with at least 1,200 games, a factor that will benefit Eugenio Suárez’s power hitting in 2026 [3].
2012 – Ranger Suárez signs with the Philadelphia Phillies at age 16, beginning a 14‑year career that evolves from bullpen work to a rotation mainstay and culminates in a 2024 All‑Star selection [1].
2017 – The Houston Astros win the World Series, later tainted by a sign‑stealing scandal that casts a shadow over the franchise and its players, including future free agent Alex Bregman [2].
2019 – Eugenio Suárez hits a career‑high 49 home runs for the Cincinnati Reds, establishing himself as the club’s premier power hitter before leaving for Seattle in 2022 [3].
2022 – The Astros capture a second World Series title, adding to Alex Bregman’s championship résumé and enhancing his market value as a free agent [2].
2024 – Ranger Suárez earns his first All‑Star nod, posting a 12‑8 record with a 3.20 ERA over 26 starts and solidifying his reputation for consistency and speed variation on pitches [1].
June 2025 – Alex Bregman misses the entire month with a quadriceps injury, limiting him to a .273 average, 18 homers and 62 RBIs in 114 games for Boston, his lowest production since 2021 [2].
Fall 2025 – The Chicago Cubs finish the season 92‑70, place second in the NL Central, and are eliminated by Milwaukee in a five‑game Division Series, prompting the front office to pursue Bregman to boost offense [2].
Oct 2025 – The Seattle Mariners fall one win short of the World Series after losing the ALCS to Toronto; Eugenio Suárez contributes two homers, including an eighth‑inning grand slam, in Game 5 [3].
Jan 11, 2026 – Alex Bregman agrees to a five‑year, $175 million contract with the Chicago Cubs, pending a physical, and secures a no‑trade clause that lets him block future deals [2].
Jan 14, 2026 – The Boston Red Sox sign left‑hander Ranger Suárez to a five‑year, $130 million deal, adding a consistent rotation arm after missing out on Alex Bregman; the contract triggers a compensatory draft pick for the Phillies [1].
Feb 2, 2026 – Eugenio Suárez inks a one‑year, $15 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds, slated to serve primarily as designated hitter with occasional corner‑infield duties, after a strong postseason showing with Seattle [3].
Summer 2026 – The Philadelphia Phillies receive an extra draft pick after the fourth round in the 2026 amateur draft as compensation for losing Ranger Suárez, per the qualifying‑offer system [1].
2026 season – Boston projects a rotation featuring Ranger Suárez alongside Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray and Brayan Bello, with potential spots for Payton Tolle or Connelly Early, signaling the team's strategy to bolster pitching depth [1].