With Cody Bellinger now off the market, only one impact bat remains available in free agency: the third baseman Eugenio Suarez. Coming off a 49-homer campaign in 2025, the 34-year-old proved to be one of the best middle-of-the-pack free agents available in free agency this winter. However, his market was quiet for most of the winter. Some of this can be attributed to age, as teams often wonder how heavy sluggers like Suarez will age as they enter their mid-thirties. A difficult run in Seattle in which Suarez hit just .189/.255/.428 through 53 games following a midseason trade may also raise eyebrows. However, the upside Suarez showed last year is very good and could be a game-changer for a roster that needs promotion. The question is: which team will step up and get him? Check out some of the options:
The Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox appear ready to work with Suarez after the club missed out on meeting him. Alex Bregman earlier this month. That leaves a gaping hole in the team’s position, and Suarez is the best option to plug that remaining hole on the free agent market. The slugger will also provide the team with no home run power in 2025, a deficit that has led them to participate in the market. Kyle Schwarber again Pete Alonso earlier this winter. However, as already mentioned, the team’s intention in signing Guard Suarez after the loss of Bregman combined with a focus on blocking the run and the run. Suarez is a no-nonsense defender at third base and those skills seem to diminish as he gets older, so the Red Sox may choose to pursue the trade market, where young players are desirable. Nico Hoerner, Isaac Paredesagain Brendan Donovan can be found.
The Pittsburgh Pirates
Pirates stand out and deserve Suarez on paper. After trading It’s Bryan Hayes at the Reds last summer, they have a gap in the third place that Suarez can fill. Adding Suarez to the roster will also give the Pirates a boost this year. Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn, Bryan Reynoldsagain Oneil Cruz they’re a solid group of bats in the heart of Pittsburgh’s order, but a good big bat to help balance out those left out a bit would go a long way to adding some credibility to the team’s lineup. The big question for Pittsburgh may be whether the sides can get anything in common at all; The Pirates have spent more money than usual this winter, and it’s unclear where exactly their spending limit is. From Suarez’s perspective, on the other hand, he may choose to sign with a sure contender if Pittsburgh isn’t the best offer available to him.
Seattle Mariners
At the start of the season, it looked like Suarez would be heading elsewhere after the 2025 season. That makes sense enough, as he was just coming off his second title in Seattle and struggled with high strikeout rates relative to his habits both times due to the tough hitting conditions at T-Mobile Park. Once Jorge Polanco signed elsewhere, however, reports have suggested an openness on Seattle’s side to reunite with Suarez, as he could be a bridge for the club’s young up-and-coming players. Cole Young again Colt Emerson. While Suarez’s past struggles in Seattle create some cause for concern, it’s not hard to see him putting together another strong season like the one he gave the Mariners in 2022, when he hit 31 homers with a wRC+ of 132 despite a strikeout rate north of 30%.
Other Options
While the three teams above are the best fit for Suarez’s resources, they aren’t the only viable options. The Cubs were linked to Suarez earlier this winter. The Reds are very familiar with the slugger and spent the first part of the offseason looking to add a power-hitting bat to the middle of their lineup. The Phillies are trying to sign him Bo Bichette earlier this month but it came up empty in those efforts. The Padres could use a big bat to make first base or DH, especially one that the bats are good at going with. Gavin Sheets. The Marlins have a relationship with big-hitting, offensive-heavy sluggers (Kyle Stowers, Owen Caissie) and a hole at third base that Suarez could plausibly fill. OA just tried to stay Nolan Arenado to fill their hole at third base, and Suarez would be a perfect fit for the team’s home ballpark.
All those potential saviors come with caveats, however. The Cubs look very unlikely to be interested in Suarez after adding Bregman, and will need to push the top prospect. Moises Ballesteros out of the lineup to make room for him. The Reds appeared reluctant to spend big this winter after missing out on Schwarber. The Phillies turned away from Bichette JT Realmuto and he may not have room in the budget to pursue Suarez, especially if he can’t be traded Alec Bohm. It’s unclear if the Padres have the budget space to pursue Suarez, either. It’s the same for the Marlins and A’s, both of these teams have suffered from the same mistake as Pittsburgh as teams that may not be attractive to free agents due to their struggles in recent years.
Where do MLBTR readers think Suarez will end up? Will he replace Bregman in Boston, change the Pirates team, or return to Seattle? Is there another party out there that can sneak into the sweepstakes like a dark horse and come out on top? Have your say in the poll below:
