Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s misthrow on Tuesday night caught the attention of Cincinnati Reds fans. The error in the sixth inning allowed the Minnesota Twins to stay in the game, and two batters later, Harrison Bader’s home run put them ahead. Fortunately, Cincinnati mounted a comeback and won 6-5.
Although Encarnacion-Strand played third base in the minors, it’s not his primary position. Meanwhile, Terry Francona continues to use Spencer Steer at first base because of his strong defensive skills. However, Steer’s bat has been notably quiet this season. Santiago Espinal is a top-tier defender but has repeatedly shown that he’s mainly effective as a platoon option against left-handed pitchers.
Add to the complexity of the Reds’ third base woes the questionable play of Jeimer Candelario (once he returns from the IL) and the injury status of Noelvi Marte, and Cincinnati has four infielders — none of whom are equipped to handle the hot corner with regularity. Third base may be Cincinnati’s biggest area of need at the MLB trade deadline, and a former fan-favorite could fill the void.
Reds disaster at third base just reopened the door for reunion with Eugenio Suárez
Eugenio Suárez is entering the final year of his contract — ironically the one he originally signed with the Reds — and is expected to be a sought-after name ahead of this year’s MLB trade deadline. While the Arizona Diamondbacks haven’t fully embraced a “seller” status yet, with Suárez, Zac Gallen, and Merrill Kelly all in their walk years, they could be sitting on valuable assets. Adding to that, the injuries to Corbin Burnes and Jordan Montgomery have made it seem increasingly likely that the D-backs might look to move players before the July 31 deadline.
Though Suárez strikes out frequently, he would still be a major upgrade over the likes of Encarnacion, Espinal, or Candelario. Adding Suárez could slightly hinder the growth of Elly De La Cruz at third base, but with no chance of retaining Suárez beyond this season, De La Cruz could easily shift back to the hot corner in 2026.
Suárez’s defense has taken a step back, but he’s still posted 12 outs above average (OAA) since 2023. And let’s be real—defense matters, but if the Reds trade for Geno, it’s his bat that’s the primary focus. He’s already hit 21 home runs this season, including two in his recent visit to Great American Ball Park.
There may not be many bats available at the trade deadline with the same kind of impact as Suárez. Reds fans would undoubtedly love to have Geno back in Cincinnati, and his veteran presence could provide a valuable boost to the clubhouse down the stretch.
The main obstacle to trading for Suárez would be the asking price from Arizona, but aside from that, there’s really no downside. At some point, the Reds need to stop worrying about parting with prospects and make a bold move to strengthen the current roster. Adding Geno would certainly do just that.
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