Eugenio Suárez reunion would complicate everything the Reds have built

Eugenio Suárez came of age in a Cincinnati Reds uniform. All it cost to bring him over from the Detroit Tigers was one year of Alfredo Simon, who was on his last legs and posted a 5.05 ERA in Detroit. Suárez spent seven years in Cincinnati, slashing .253/.335/.476 while crushing 189 dingers. Talk about a steal!

Geno was also a fan-favorite in Cincinnati, as he's been at every other stop along his career. And with the Reds searching desperately for power, it makes sense that, as one of the best power bats on the market, a reunion with him would seem logical.

Beyond the surface, aside from the long balls and the good vibes, the fit is a tough one, though. Moreover, it would jeopardize everything the Reds have been building.

A Reds-Eugenio Suárez reunion would bring good vibes, but would come with unnecessary roster complications

The Reds have worked hard at two things over the last few years. First is developing young players who can make an impact, with Sal Stewart looking to be the latest addition alongside Elly De La Cruz, Noelvi Marte, and others. The second, becoming a solid defensive squad, is still a work in progress.

Defensive excellence is a point of emphasis under Terry Francona, and was a big motivation behind the complicated Ke'Bryan Hayes trade. On that front, Suárez is a tough fit. In his defensive heyday, Suárez was never going to be considered for a Gold Glove, but was at least an above-average presence at the hot corner.

At 34 years old, those days are behind him. Suárez is now a net-negative defensively, and some have speculated that his next team might have him play across the diamond at first base rather than third.

That wouldn't solve any issues for the Reds either. As currently constructed, Cincinnati has too many players penciled in at the corners. Hayes' glove work likely pins Stewart at first the majority of the time, with Spencer Steer serving as a first base-corner outfield utility maven.

That doesn't leave much room for Suárez. Francona would also prefer to keep the DH spot somewhat open to rotate players through, something they'll already need to do with Stewart, Steer, and Hayes all competing for reps.

The best way for Cincinnati to add pop to the lineup is in the outfield, or via a Matt McLain replacement, and unfortunately, Geno can't help at either spot. It's a nice idea in theory, but one that is difficult to transform into a plausible reality.