Pirates return to true colors with Eugenio Suarez free agent decision

Eugenio Suarez may not have been favored to join the Pittsburgh Pirates.

But multiple times during the offseason, major publications linked Suarez as a possible Pirates target. It seemed to be in play that the free agent third baseman from the Seattle Mariners could end up in Pittsburgh.

Instead, on Sunday, Suarez signed with the Cincinnati Reds, an NL Central rival.

According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, the Pirates were actually Suarez's second choice:

Eugenio Suárez was between the Reds and Pirates at the end, source says, with the Red Sox not playing a meaningful role in his market.

MORE: How Jose Ramirez is on pace to become Cleveland's Derek Jeter

That makes it hurt all the more.

Reports indicated that Suarez signed for one year and $15 million in Cincy, and that's where this one really stings for the Pirates.

Sure, that's big money by Pittsburgh standards, but not by modern MLB levels. Suarez would've been expected to go for much more than that at the beginning of free agency.

MORE: Luis Arraez is MLB's perfect misfit in 2026

Even if he's aging and was not quite as good in the second half, Suarez still hit 49 home runs in 2025.

That would've been a huge boost to the Pirates' lineup.

Instead, they came in as the runner-up in the negotiations. And that's not fun at all.

More MLB news:

• Team USA's projected WBC lineup is incredible
• Dominican Republic's projected WBC lineup is fierce
• How Trent Grisham's decision ruined the Yankees' offseason plans
• Buster Posey will change Hall of Fame voting forever
• Bo Bichette comments exhibit clear hyprocrisy
• Injury insurance is changing the World Baseball Classic