Reds make Eugenio Suárez and TJ Friedl decision that signals painful offseason ahead

Eugenio Suárez and TJ Friedl are beloved by the Cincinnati Reds fanbase and their teammates, but one or both might not be part of the organization after Thursday afternoon. According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, both Suárez and Freidl were placed on outright waivers, meaning any team can claim them so long as they take on the remainder of their salary.

In Suárez's case, that would cost the claiming team about $3 million. That's a pretty stiff price for a player who's scuffling through the worst season of his Major League career. As for Friedl, the bill would only come out to about $700,000, but much like Suárez, the Reds' outfielder is enduring a forgettable campaign.

Rosenthal assumes Suárez and Friedl will clear waivers, meaning they'll both remain with the team until the end of the season. A desperate contender who's familiar with Suárez — the Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, or Seattle Mariners — could take a flier and claim the two-time All-Star, but it's far more likely he'll stay put.

Reds fan-favorites Eugenio Suárez and TJ Friedl fell short of expectations

Regardless, the 2026 season has not been what either Suárez or Friedl were expecting, and their shortcomings are a big reason why Cincinnati is eight games under .500 with a less 1% chance to return to the playoffs. The former was making his triumphant return to the team with whom he became a star, and the latter was coming off his best season ever. Both, however, have fallen woefully short of expectations.

Friedl was supposed to the set the table for Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart, while Suárez was supposed to be the masher in the middle of the Reds lineup. Neither has lived up to those roles in 2026 and the Reds lineup has suffered as a result.

This likely means the Reds will assuredly not exercise their end of Suárez's mutual-option, and are unlikely to re-sign him in free agency. As for Friedl, he'll almost certainly be non-tendered after the season comes to a close.

What's likely a bitter end to the Reds' career of two beloved players also signals more painful moves on the horizon. Suárez and Friedl are far from the only players who've underperformed this season, and the futures of Noelvi Marte, Connor Phillips, Chase Petty, Nick Lodolo, Matt McLain, and Ke'Bryan Hayes are anything but certain.

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