Reds analyst singles out 34-year-old free agent as Elly De La Cruz's lineup protection for 2026

The Cincinnati Reds winning 83 games in 2025 and reaching the National League Division Series was an achievement. But their sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers exposed the glaring difference between them and the contenders in the NL.

The Reds would aim to get stronger as a hitting group. They showed their interest in free agent Kyle Schwarber, who eventually re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. They had reportedly offered him a five-year, $125 million contract.

According to the Locked on Reds podcast host Steven Offenbaker on Thursday's episode, the Reds are best suited to make a similar bid for Eugenio Suarez in free agency. Signing Suarez would give them the lineup depth behind Elly De La Cruz.

"We continue to plead for somebody that can bring a little bit of power to this lineup, somebody that can have some kind of a lasting impact for the Reds in 2026 and really somebody that makes some protection for Elly De La Cruz when you put the lineup on paper," Offenbaker said. (2:54) "And I think Eugenio Suarez fits that bill. Now, I know he's getting a little bit older and I know some of his peripheral numbers aren't the greatest in the world, but what I know is that Gino still has a lot of power in his bat. He's going to be able to hit the ball and hit it hard."

Eugenio Suarez has played for the Reds in the past. In his seven seasons at the club from 2015 to 2021, Suarez hit .253 with 189 home runs and 524 RBIs with an .811 OPS. His best years came in 2018-19 when he averaged 41.5 home runs a season with a .912 OPS.

Elly De La Cruz recorded the highest bWAR (3.6) on the Reds lineup, recording a .264 average with 22 home runs and 86 RBIs. The next best was center fielder TJ Friedl with a 2.3 bWAR.

"Put 49 or 50 home runs in that lineup behind Elly De La Cruz and this Cincinnati Reds lineup is an entirely different beast in 2026," he added.

Eugenio Suarez had shortlisted Reds during deadline according to MLB podcaster

Offenbaker's co-host, Tim Daniel, said on the show that when the Arizona Diamondbacks were shopping Eugenio Suarez at the trade deadline in July, he was interested in a reunion with the Reds because he had family in the city.

"I did some digging and I found out a few things, and he was definitely interested in coming back to Cincinnati and there were discussions," Daniel said. (5:30) "...He wanted to come back to Cincinnati. It was definitely on his short list. Seattle just gave him a better chance."

Suarez ended up being traded to the Seattle Mariners. He tied his career best of 49 home runs playing for the D-backs and the Mariners and played a major hand for the latter during the postseason, something the Reds can profit from.

Edited by R. Nikhil Parshy