Eugenio Suárez's return is setting up one fascinating Reds roster decision

Cincinnati Reds slugger Eugenio Suárez will soon begin a rehab assignment as he works his way back from an oblique injury. According to FOX19 contributor Charlie Goldsmith, Suárez is expected to begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday.

Where Suárez will be playing and how long he'll be there have yet to be revealed, but the bigger question the Reds will need to answer is how he'll fit into the lineup once he returns. Obviously Geno will be part of the everyday lineup, but there's bound to be a ripple effect that will impact others on the roster.

The Reds have a difficult, but somewhat obvious choice to make once Suárez is activated from the IL. When Suárez returns, a corresponding move will have to be made, and the most likely scenario is outfielder Blake Dunn heading back to Triple-A. Some Reds fans might prefer to see one of Will Benson or TJ Friedl optioned back to the minor leagues, but that seems unlikely.

Assuming one of the Reds' outfielders is optioned to the minors in order to activate Suárez from the IL, Spencer Steer will become a regular in the outfield. JJ Bleday has earned a starting spot in left field, and some combination of the remaining outfielders (Dunn, Benson, Friedl or Dane Myers) can roam the middle of the outfield.

Matt McLain's elevation to the leadoff spot on Monday displays Terry Francona's confidence in the second baseman, and obviously Elly De La Cruz will be in Cincinnati's lineup almost every game. Fans should assume that the electric duo of McLain and De La Cruz will be batting 1-2 most nights.

What do the Reds do with Ke'Bryan Hayes once Eugenio Suárez returns?

The Reds brought Suárez into the fold during the offseason with hopes of him acting as the team's designated hitter. But given Ke'Bryan Hayes' slumping bat, many fans are hopeful that Geno's return will force the two-time Gold Glover into a reserve role. Suárez is more than capable of handling duties at third base, and even Sal Stewart has received a number of starts at the hot corner this season.

Cincinnati's best offensive lineup incorporates some sort of combination that includes Suárez, Stewart, and Nathaniel Lowe — with one of those three acting as the DH. But the Reds aren't playing Hayes $8 million to ride the bench, and that's where this gets tricky.

Hayes' anemic bat has made him almost unplayable, and even his defense has taken a step back this season. Though he's still among the top-10 defenders in all of baseball according to Fielding Bible, his range appears somewhat diminished as evidenced by his -1 outs above average (OAA) this season. Couple that with Hayes' .147/.202/.233 slash line, and you can see why he shouldn't be anywhere near Cincinnati's everyday lineup.

Acquiring Hayes at last year's trade deadline was a risky move, and it's quickly become a major headache for Nick Krall and the Reds' front office. With approximately $30 million remaining on his current deal — one that runs through 2029 — it's difficult to see the Reds cutting bait so quickly. Cincinnati waited until the last year of Mike Moustakas' horrific contract before finally releasing him.

If Hayes' bat doesn't show any signs of life over the next few games, the Reds will have almost no choice but to relegate him to a bench bat/ defensive replacement. So far, the trade for Hayes has proven to be another mistake on the part of Krall and the Reds' front office.

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