Report: Suárez returns to Reds on 1-year, $15M deal

The Cincinnati Reds and All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suárez agreed to a one-year, $15-million contract that includes a mutual option for the 2027 season, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Suárez is expected to serve as the Reds' primary designated hitter in 2026, according to Passan.

The 34-year-old's option is worth $16 million, reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

Suárez picked the Reds over the Pittsburgh Pirates, who were the other finalist, a source told MassLive's Chris Cotillo.

The Pirates offered Suárez the same average annual value he agreed to with the Reds and were willing to go higher, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. Pittsburgh was also open to a multi-year pact, adds Stumpf.

However, Suárez reportedly preferred a better ballpark for hitters and familiarity with Cincinnati. He hit 189 homers with an .811 OPS over 916 games for the Reds between 2015 and 2021.

The Boston Red Sox were rumored to be connected to the slugger throughout the offseason but never made an offer, a source told Cotillo.

Suárez went deep 49 times with 118 RBIs and an .824 OPS in 159 contests between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners in 2025. He became the 19th player in MLB history to record a four-homer game after accomplishing the feat last April with the D-Backs.