Former Reds fan-favorite Eugenio Suárez is officially off the market. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners pulled off a late-night deal on Wednesday, sending the two-time All-Star back to Seattle. But the idea that Cincinnati couldn’t afford to match the offer is hard to believe.
The Mariners may have pulled off a steal. For weeks, Reds fans were told Suárez’s asking price was sky-high, with speculation that it would require a substantial package of prospects to land the slugger. Yet, in reality, Seattle only had to part with three mid-level prospects to get the deal done.
The Mariners sent first baseman Tyler Locklear and right-handers Hunter Cranton and Juan Burgos to Arizona—none of whom are considered top-100 prospects. Had the Reds made a similar offer, it likely would’ve included names like Edwin Arroyo, Luke Holman, and Kenya Huggins — all respectable, but not among Cincinnati’s top-tier farm talent.
Mariners just stole Eugenio Suárez and proved the Reds can’t afford to stand still
The Suárez trade highlights an important takeaway for the Reds: their work shouldn’t be finished. With only a few hours remaining before the trade deadline, President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall and the Reds front office can’t afford to remain idle.
While pitching prices have skyrocketed this year, the market for position players has remained relatively affordable — and the Suárez deal proves it. Seattle landed arguably the best bat available without giving up any of their top prospects.
Given the way the Reds are built, they don’t need a star slugger — just a right-handed bat to platoon and provide support against left-handed pitching. Players like Miguel Andujar of the Athletics or Ramon Laureano from the Orioles could likely be had for a lower-tier prospect.
Cincinnati is on the cusp of serious contention, and adding one more bat could make a big difference. After seeing what it took to get Suárez, the Reds should act swiftly and add a position player before the deadline clock runs out.
