Reds made Eugenio Suarez signing official and addressed roster math right away

The Cincinnati Reds made their biggest offseason splash official on Tuesday afternoon with the announcement that Eugenio Suárez is coming back to the Queen City. As first reported over the weekend, it's a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2027.

As with all new signings, there is a bit of roster management that comes on the backside. The Reds 40-man roster was sitting at capacity, so a corresponding move was necessary, and Cincinnati decided to designate catcher Ben Rortvedt for assignment.

Rortvedt had already been DFA'd once this season. The Los Angeles Dodgers cut ties with the backstop after signing him to a one-year deal. It was obvious that LA was attempting to sneak the 28-year-old through waivers, but the Reds pounced at the opportunity to bring him into the fold. It's quite plausible that Cincinnati will make the same attempt to keep Rortvedt in the organization ahead of spring training, but that could prove to be a tough task.

Reds made Eugenio Suarez signing official and DFA Ben Rortvedt

Suárez is expected to take on full-time DH duties in 2026, though it's likely fans will see him get a handful of starts at both first and third base. The Reds have Ke'Bryan Hayes at the hot corner and the pairing of Spencer Steer and Sal Stewart on the other side of the diamond, but Geno will get some chances to play the field as well.

Be that as it may, the Reds' brought Suárez back to Cincinnati for his bat, not his glove. The slugger mashed 49 home runs last season, and blasted another three round-trippers during the Seattle Mariners playoff run. The Cincinnati faithful are hoping the addition of Suárez helps the Reds return to the postseason in 2026.

Fans will have to wait and see if Geno shows up to Goodyear with his platinum-colored locks, but one things we do know is that he'll have a new jersey number when he steps onto the field in Arizona. Suárez donned the No. 7 during his Reds' tenure, but that numeral belongs to Steer. Geno will take up the No. 28, a number he wore while playing for both the Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks.