Kyle Schwarber miss could push Reds toward a reunion that would thrill fans

It was always a long shot, but after falling short in the Kyle Schwarber sweepstakes, the Cincinnati Reds fanbase is still bummed that they missed out on the hometown slugger. ESPN's Jeff Passan reports that Schwarber is headed back to the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $150 million deal.

According to Cincinnati reporter Charlie Goldsmith, while the Reds did indeed extend an offer to Schwarber, they were informed on Tuesday morning that they were out of the running. After seeing the figures, Reds fans know that Cincinnati's ownership group wasn't going anywhere near that $30 million AAV. But another reunion of sorts could be brewing, and Reds fans would absolutely love it.

Though there've been no rumors or connection to date, the Reds had interest in acquiring former third baseman Eugenio Suárez at last year's trade deadline. Suárez was ultimately traded to the Seattle Mariners, and Cincinnati settled on Gold Glove Award-winner Ke'Bryan Hayes. Could the Reds circle back and sign him this winter?

Kyle Schwarber miss could push Reds toward a reunion with Eugenio Suárez

Suárez is a free agent for the first time in his career and is coming off another power-packed performance. Geno hit .228/.298/.526 last season with 49 bombs and a 125 wRC+. Per usual, Suárez was among the league leaders in strikeouts (196) last season with a K-rate bordering on 30%.

But if the Reds are searching for power this offseason, and their attempts to sign Schwarber would certainly suggest that they are, few players on the open market are going to match the middle-of-the-order might of Suárez. Over the past five seasons, Geno's clobbered 163 home runs; that's an average of 32 per year.

The positional fit is not ideal, but neither was signing a full-time DH like Schwarber. Suárez is not the same defender he was in years past, and many scouts and pundits assume that Geno will evenutally make the transition to first base. Discussion has already begun about moving Spencer Steer back in left field in 2026, and Suárez could take over at the cold corner.

Suárez's shortcomings are more pronounced than Schwarber's, but his price tag is far more doable for the Reds. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Geno could be looking at a three-year, $63 million deal. If the Reds were willing to enter the upper-echelon of the Schwarber sweepstakes, they should have no problem landing Geno for half the cost and fraction of the years. Go get it done, Reds!