The Cincinnati Reds have made official the return of a beloved player.After reports broke over the weekend that the Reds had reached a one-year deal with infielder Eugenio Suarez, the team confirmed the singing Tuesday afternoon.The Reds did not disclose the financial component of the deal. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the one-year deal was worth $15 million. After wearing No. 7 in his first stint with the Reds, Suarez will wear No. 28, the same number he’s worn since he left the organization in 2022.Having played in Cincinnati from 2015-2021, Suarez has spent parts of each four seasons with Seattle or Arizona.Suarez played for the Mariners in 2022 and 2023 and signed with the Diamondbacks in 2024, but was dealt to his former club last season in July. Having hit 30 or more home runs with the Reds on three occasions, Suarez totaled 30 or more homers in three of the last four seasons, including 49 last year between his two clubs.He finished with the fifth most home runs in baseball. The Reds had just two 20+ home run hitters in 2025: Elly De La Cruz (22) and Spencer Steer (21).”It is perfect,” Suarez said Tuesday when officially re-introduced as a member of the club. “That is why I am here. It is perfect. Excited and very happy to be back home.”While he debuted in 2014 with the Detroit Tigers, Suarez was traded to Cincinnati in December 2014 in exchange for pitcher Alfredo Simon. Later that season, he became the club’s starting shortstop after an injury to Zack Cozart.He earned his first All-Star nod in 2018. That season he led the team home runs (34) and RBI (104) while slashing .283/.366/.526.In 2018 and 2019, Suarez earned MVP votes, finishing 18th in voting in ’18 and 15th in ’19.Suarez and outfielder Jesse Winker were traded to Seattle in March 2022 in the deal that brought, among others, Jake Fraley to Cincinnati.Prior to his trade to the Mariners, Suarez was named to the 2025 National League All-Star team.Suarez was considered to be one of the top free agents this offseason, ranked the No. 15 free agent by Yahoo! Sports and the No. 16 free agent by The Athletic.”It was great we were able to get Geno,” Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall said Tuesday. “Middle of the order bat, great clubhouse guy, loved by our fans.”Suarez’s bat will be sure to bring some pop to a lineup that struggled to leave the yard last season. Cincinnati totaled just 167 homers last season, the 10th-fewest in the majors.Speaking on lineup possibilities, Krall outlines a path where the Reds have multiple options across the diamond, including first base, third base and DH. Add in Spencer Steer, there’s outfield flexibility for Cincinnati, too.Having spent time together when on the same roster for the All Star game, Suarez says he’s already heard from a “fired up” Elly De La Cruz.”Whatever he needs for me, I will help him,” Suarez said of mentoring the Reds young star. “Not only on the field, but off the field. It’s not always about physically. It is about being mentally strong.”
CINCINNATI —
The Cincinnati Reds have made official the return of a beloved player.
After reports broke over the weekend that the Reds had reached a one-year deal with infielder Eugenio Suarez, the team confirmed the singing Tuesday afternoon.
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The Reds did not disclose the financial component of the deal. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the one-year deal was worth $15 million. After wearing No. 7 in his first stint with the Reds, Suarez will wear No. 28, the same number he’s worn since he left the organization in 2022.
Having played in Cincinnati from 2015-2021, Suarez has spent parts of each four seasons with Seattle or Arizona.
Suarez played for the Mariners in 2022 and 2023 and signed with the Diamondbacks in 2024, but was dealt to his former club last season in July. Having hit 30 or more home runs with the Reds on three occasions, Suarez totaled 30 or more homers in three of the last four seasons, including 49 last year between his two clubs.
He finished with the fifth most home runs in baseball. The Reds had just two 20+ home run hitters in 2025: Elly De La Cruz (22) and Spencer Steer (21).
“It is perfect,” Suarez said Tuesday when officially re-introduced as a member of the club. “That is why I am here. It is perfect. Excited and very happy to be back home.”
While he debuted in 2014 with the Detroit Tigers, Suarez was traded to Cincinnati in December 2014 in exchange for pitcher Alfredo Simon. Later that season, he became the club’s starting shortstop after an injury to Zack Cozart.
He earned his first All-Star nod in 2018. That season he led the team home runs (34) and RBI (104) while slashing .283/.366/.526.
In 2018 and 2019, Suarez earned MVP votes, finishing 18th in voting in ’18 and 15th in ’19.
Suarez and outfielder Jesse Winker were traded to Seattle in March 2022 in the deal that brought, among others, Jake Fraley to Cincinnati.
Prior to his trade to the Mariners, Suarez was named to the 2025 National League All-Star team.
Suarez was considered to be one of the top free agents this offseason, ranked the No. 15 free agent by Yahoo! Sports and the No. 16 free agent by The Athletic.
“It was great we were able to get Geno,” Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall said Tuesday. “Middle of the order bat, great clubhouse guy, loved by our fans.”
Suarez’s bat will be sure to bring some pop to a lineup that struggled to leave the yard last season. Cincinnati totaled just 167 homers last season, the 10th-fewest in the majors.
Speaking on lineup possibilities, Krall outlines a path where the Reds have multiple options across the diamond, including first base, third base and DH. Add in Spencer Steer, there’s outfield flexibility for Cincinnati, too.
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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Nick Krall says Graham Ashcraft & Tyler Stephenson arbitration hearings will be next week.
On where key players will get reps at spring training:
Eugenio Suarez: 1B, 3B, DH
Sal Stewart: 1B, 2B 3B, DH
Spencer Steer: 1B, 2B, LF, RF
Ke’Bryan Hayes: “Obviously a top notch 3B”
— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) February 3, 2026
Having spent time together when on the same roster for the All Star game, Suarez says he’s already heard from a “fired up” Elly De La Cruz.
Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves
“Whatever he needs for me, I will help him,” Suarez said of mentoring the Reds young star. “Not only on the field, but off the field. It’s not always about physically. It is about being mentally strong.”