Cincinnati Reds should give Eugenio Suarez another shot at shortstop

With the struggles of Jose Peraza and the imminent arrival of Nick Senzel, Eugenio Suarez makes sense at shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds.

The Cincinnati Reds need a replacement for pending free agent Zack Cozart at shortstop.  Theoretically, the Reds could re-sign the fan favorite, but a thirty year-old shortstop doesn’t fit in a rebuild.  That means that 2018 will see a new starter at shortstop for the Reds.

The current plan is to let Jose Peraza play shortstop next year even though he needs to take steps to improve .  He has shown an ability to excel as a bench player.  As an everyday player, he lost his second base job to waiver wire claim, Scooter Gennett.

The other factor is that the Reds top prospect, third baseman Nick Senzel, is just about ready to assume the everyday third base role.  With Senzel on the way there, he will push Suarez out of the position.  That means that the Reds current clean-up hitter won’t have a place to play, despite playing well enough to earn a contract extension.

The mitigating factor is all of the shortstop prospects lined up in the minor leagues.  Right now, Zach Vincej is getting a good amount of time at shortstop.  Meanwhile, Blake Trahan is playing short everyday in the Arizona Fall League.

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Eugenio Suarez played well enough for the Cincinnati Reds in 2017 that he deserves a starting spot for several years.

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The long range plan for Suarez may be replacing Joey Votto at first base some day.  Of course, unless Votto asks to move on, that is three or more years away.  In the meantime, Suarez should be starting somewhere.

So far this season, Suarez has 26 home runs and 81 RBIs.  He is batting .267 with an OBP of .376.  He has struck out 136 times, but also walked 83 for a decent ratio.

Perhaps more importantly, Suarez has improved dramatically this season defensively.  Last year, Suarez was the worst defensive third baseman in the National League.  This year he has played some of the best defense at third.

If Suarez can do that, then he can do the same as a shortstop.  He will never have the range of Cozart.  Adding Senzel to the offense for Cozart will make the defense at short less important.  Just being average at short, while hitting 20 home runs, will be enough.

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Whatever the Reds decide to do moving forward, they should include Suarez in the plans.  Perhaps more than any other Red, he combines offense, youth, and affordability in the way a rebuilding team needs.  Leveraging Suarez on the field can get the Reds out of the rebuild.