​The Reds’ $15 million slugger, Eugenio Suarez, has been tabbed as a “buy low” trade target for a 49-homer reason, in a piece originally published by The Sporting News. The article notes that The Sporting News should be added as a preferred source by clicking here. With the Cincinnati Reds currently not in great shape to mount a postseason push this season, it wouldn’t be surprising if they chose to be sellers at the trade deadline. While stars like Elly De La Cruz, Chase Burns, and Hunter Greene aren’t likely to be moved, the Reds could explore moves involving some of their impending free agents. Suarez, the Reds’ $15 million free-agent addition, is highlighted by Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report as a player teams could “buy low” on this summer because of a straightforward 49-homer track record.
“Things haven’t gone according to plan, as a left oblique strain cost Suarez a month and the Reds find themselves in last place in the NL Central,” Kelly writes. “… Sure, he’s only hit nine home runs this season, but he clubbed 49 a year ago between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Mariners.” For teams seeking to bolster their lineup this summer at the trade deadline, taking a chance on Suarez could make substantial sense.
Although the $15 million slugger hasn’t lived up to the hype this season, he has posted a -1.0 bWAR across 233 at-bats in 65 games, with nine homers, 32 RBIs, a .639 OPS, and a 73 OPS+. In a year that has been challenging for him, Suarez remains a valuable trade asset. A club looking to add power, particularly at the corner infield or designated hitter spots, could view Suarez as a solid buy-low target, a point Kelly underscores.
The article also notes that Suarez’s 49 home runs last season, which helped him earn a second All-Star selection, could lead to a team offering a slightly stronger return than usual for a player who has struggled this year. As Suarez approaches his 35th birthday and heads toward free agency after the 2026 season, the Reds (standing at 43-50, 15.5 games back in the NL Central and 8.0 back in the NL Wild Card) may decide to sell. If they do, Suarez should attract interest, and because of his uneven performance this season, a willing acquiring team might not need to part with a large package to obtain him—a reality that could be disappointing for the Reds but, given the circumstances, a reasonable outcome that yields some return.
Additional context around similar trade ideas continues to circulate, including a Cubs’ realistic proposal sending Seiya Suzuki to the Mariners for Luis Castillo, and a Phillies notion that would bring Jung Hoo Lee and Robbie Ray from the Giants in exchange for two prospects. Even broader conversations about what happened to Shohei Ohtani, why the Dodgers’ star won’t pitch tonight or play in the All-Star Game, and what other return the Blue Jays received for Tommy Nance show how dynamic and evolving the trade market can be for players at Suarez’s level.
In this environment, Suarez’s free-agent status after 2026 places added importance on the Reds’ decision-making at the deadline. If Cincinnati decides to sell, Suarez could be a key asset, and teams seeking a power-heavy upgrade with room to grow would likely show interest. The possibility of obtaining a reasonable return, given his current struggles and pending free agency, makes him a particularly intriguing buy-low option for contenders looking to add a proven big bat to their lineup.