The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates made a trade at the 2025 MLB trade deadline that could determine where a free agent signs early in 2026.
Eugenio Suarez's fate can be tied into a circle with those two NL Central Division rivals.
ESPN's Jesse Rogers explained it in a new article on Tuesday. The premise is this:
- The Pirates traded Ke'Bryan Hayes to the Reds.
- The Pirates now need a third baseman.
- Suarez is an available third baseman.
Adding to the intrigue is that Suarez might otherwise want a return to Cincinnati, but the Reds may not have a spot for him now.
"Suarez liked his time in Cincinnati, though Pittsburgh is still looking for hitters among the NL Central teams in need of infield help," Rogers wrote. "Suarez might replace Ke'Bryan Hayes there (after he went to Cincy in a trade with the Pirates last season)."
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Suarez, Rogers adds, likely will have to wait to sign until Alex Bregman is off the board. Teams have to figure out how their third base situation sets up.
But at some point, Suarez will get a solid contract. He's coming off a season in which he hit 49 home runs.
Of those, 36 came in his red-hot start for the Diamondbacks, which also included a 4-HR game. After he was traded to the Mariners, Suarez cooled off and hit 13 more home runs with worse peripheral stats.
He's a streaky power hitter, but Suarez is still a quality starter who can hit in the middle of a lineup. And if he ends up with the Pirates, he may have the Reds to thank.
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