Reds' ridiculous fallback if Eugenio Suárez slips away would be a massive misfire

Recent weeks have had Cincinnati Reds fans dreaming of once again seeing Eugenio Suárez hitting moonshots out of Great American Ball Park, but as the trade deadline approaches and other contenders pursue the third baseman, those dreams are fading.

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, Cincinnati may turn its attention to other third basemen, such as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Pursuing hot corner help at all costs, though, would be a mistake.

The primary reason the Reds pursued Suárez in the first place was his power. Cincinnati’s third basemen have slugged .334 this year, fifth-worst in the majors. Conversely, Reds third basemen are tied for the best mark in baseball in total zone fielding runs above average, despite Noelvi Marte’s struggles at the position. Adding a glove-first utility man like IKF would simply duplicate a strength rather than addressing a weakness.

The Reds’ third base or bust philosophy may lead to a useless trade

Even moving Marte to the outfield on a more permanent basis would barely justify a trade for Kiner-Falefa. An outfield of Gavin Lux, TJ Friedl, and Marte would have firepower enough, especially with Austin Hays at DH, but the Reds would essentially be swapping Jake Fraley in right for IKF at third. Furthermore, Fraley has a better bat than IKF so the trade may actually be a step down.

Perhaps the Reds are signaling a greater emphasis on 2026. IKF would be able to hold down third base while Marte continues to get his feet wet in the outfield. Sal Stewart is just a stop away from the big leagues and should compete for a starting job in spring training. While disappointing for fans who have followed the ups and downs of this season, a conservative approach seems right up Nick Krall’s alley.

Considering the prospect haul necessary to snag Suárez, maybe this isn’t the worst plan. The Reds have kept pace well enough to make a late-season push but will almost assuredly be better next year. A healthy (hopefully) Hunter Greene and Rhett Lowder plus Chase Burns would complement a lineup that will remain entirely intact if Hays and the Reds agree on a mutual option. The next 36 hours may determine the path of the franchise’s next two years.

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