Eugenio Suarez is going to make one MLB club very happy in 2026.
With less than a month before the start of spring training in Florida and Arizona, there are still several MLB clubs in need of a serviceable, everyday third baseman. Count the Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, and Pittsburgh Pirates among the needy. A power bat at the “hot corner” is more than a luxury for a club to fare well during the regular season. A slugging third baseman is a necessity to go deep into the postseason.
The Tigers last appeared in a World Series back in 2012. The Pirates haven’t played postseason ball since a Wild Card loss to the Chicago Cubs in October 2015. After winning the World Series championship in 2023 with rookie Josh Jung as their No. 1 third baseman, his past two seasons have been unfulfilled. Injuries and inconsistency have brought up questions surrounding which player Jung will be in 2026.
As for the Twins, new skipper Derek Shelton has to find a way to make Minnesota baseball close to 18 games better than last season. Finishing fourth in the American League Central in 2025, last season’s primary third baseman Roy Lewis battled injuries and was limited to 106 games and just 89 hits.
Consistency is what general managers consider when looking to upgrade their rosters. Free agent Eugenio Suarez is a run producer, year in and year out; for 12 seasons.
The dominoes continue to rapidly fall in the free agent market. This past week, third baseman Alex Bregman was signed by the Chicago Cubs to a five year, $175 million contract. Infielder Bo Bichette is now with the New York Mets, at least for the next three years (opt-outs included) at $126 million. Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto joined the Toronto Blue Jays for four years and $60 million, while outfielder Kyle Tucker agreed to a four-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $240 million.
Suarez’s turn to cash in and find a new home, beginning in 2026, should come this week.
The Pirates could definitely use Suarez’s talents in their lineup. After trading Ke'Bryan Hayes last July to the Cincinnati Reds, a huge void became apparent for the club at third base. A two-time Rawlings Gold Glove winner at the “hot corner” (2023 and 2025), Hayes’s skills didn’t come close to being duplicated by Pittsburgh’s reserves. Jared Triolo, himself a Gold Glover (2024), at best, has produced an anemic bat in manager Don Kelly’s lineup.
There is speculation, that along with Suarez being the most attractive slugger on the open market now, it has been reported throughout the off-season that Philadelphia Phillies’ third baseman Alec Bohm could be had in a trade, if the right deal was packaged. But, front and center, it’s Suarez who is on bidders’ minds.
In 2025, starting the season with the Arizona Diamondbacks and finishing with the Seattle Mariners, Suarez enjoyed a monstrous season at the plate—49 home runs (5th best in the MLB), 118 RBIs (4th best in the MLB), and a much-desired .824 OPS in 159 games. With an MLB-wide average of .700–.750 OPS, Suarez’s slugging prowess is just what Pittsburgh is in need of.
During Suarez’s first seven seasons with the Cincinnati Reds (2015–2021), he averaged 27 home runs. His next two seasons with the Seattle Mariners (2022 and 2023), Suarez smacked 31 and 22 long balls. The past two years split between Seattle and Arizona, Suarez collected 79 round-trippers. The club that inks Suarez to a multi-year contract knows exactly what they will be getting.
Having a player of Suarez’s caliber on the field and in the lineup for 150 or more games each season gives a club the comfort of knowing that they won’t have to give second thoughts on platooning or giving him many days off at third base. Having six seasons of at least 30 home runs seems to be just what Pittsburgh, of all the clubs in search of Suarez’s skills, could benefit from the most.
Recently signing free agents Ryan O'Hearn and Brandon Lowe, the Pirates have solidified second base and a corner outfield position. In 2025, both new acquisitions, who combined for 48 home runs, if added to what Suarez routinely collects, then the Pirates have a better-than-even chance of not repeating as the club that scored the least amount of runs for a second consecutive season.
Financial considerations and years of a contract will ultimately determine who Suarez decides is a best fit for himself. Payroll constraints, for some franchises, play a major factor if they are all in on pursuing a player. This off-season, Pittsburgh appears ready to be more of a spender than chasing bargains. Suarez isn’t going to be had on the cheap, whoever presents the best proposition. But, what you see is what you get with Suarez on your roster.
