Pittsburgh, or any other MLB team, can claim him off waivers for a 48-hour period, otherwise, Su\u00e1rez will stay with Cincinnati unless they designate him for assignment.<\/p>\n
The Pirates probably wouldn’t go after Su\u00e1rez, but there is good reason they should, at the very least, consider it, with a month left in the season.<\/p>\n
Why the Pirates Should Add Su\u00e1rez Off Waivers<\/p>\n
Su\u00e1rez was someone the Pirates targeted this offseason<\/a>, as a right-handed power bat that could add home runs to a lineup that hit the least in 2025, <\/p>\n He could also play third base, a spot Pittsburgh needed depth at, after trading Ke’Bryan Hayes<\/a> to the Reds at the 2025 deadline.<\/p>\n The Pirates missed out on signing Su\u00e1rez, who ended up joining the Reds on a one-year, $15 million deal, reuniting with the team where he spent seven seasons from 2015-21.<\/p>\n Aug 17, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez (28) hits a single in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n Pittsburgh instead signed designated hitter Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $12 million deal, who hit poorly and didn’t live up to expectations and ended up getting DFA’d<\/a> after the trade deadline.<\/p>\n Su\u00e1rez hasn’t exactly hit the way the Reds would’ve hoped, batting .208\/.295\/.410 for a career-low OPS of .705 and they are at the bottom of the NL Central standings at 63-71.<\/p>\n He has been much better following the All-Star break, slashing .207\/.315\/.455 for an OPS of .770, with six doubles, eight home runs and 22 RBI, with his OPS improved by almost 100 points, .673 before the All-Star break.<\/p>\n Su\u00e1rez also has a .500 slugging percentage in the month of August, with five home runs and 18 RBI, capped off with his grand slam he hit in the ninth inning of the 10-9 win over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Aug. 26, a seven-run inning for the Reds.<\/p>\n The Pirates have had serious improvements in their power this year, but have struggled recently,<\/a> with their 23 home runs over the past 30 days tied for fourth-least in baseball, and just three home runs in the past week.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh also doesn’t have any right-handed power hitters on the roster besides rookie right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez, who has one home run in the past month<\/a>, and also with fellow rookie in shortstop Konnor Griffin out injured.<\/p>\n Su\u00e1rez has also hit well at PNC Park in his career, batting .279\/.363\/.517 for an OPS of .880 and 14 home runs, second-most of any ballpark that wasn’t his home team.<\/p>\n He’s mostly been a designated hitter, but can also play third base if needed, although he’s better in the former role.<\/p>\n Would the Pirates Actually Claim Su\u00e1rez Off Waivers?<\/p>\n Any team that claims Su\u00e1rez off of waivers would have to pay the remainder of his salary, a little less than $3 million per Rosenthal.<\/p>\n That’s not an incredible amount of money, but for one month of baseball, most teams probably won’t take on that player, unless they desperately need him.<\/p>\n Aug 13, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Cincinnati Reds designated hitter Eugenio Suarez (28) hits an RBI-sacrifice fly against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n The Pirates are 64-70 and 7.5 games back in the National League Wild Card race, giving them a small chance of even making the postseason at this point.<\/p>\n Adding Su\u00e1rez may look like a desperate move to some, but desperate times call for desperate measures and the Pirates could entertain this. <\/p>\n The Pirates will likely not do it, due to financial reasons, but there’s no doubt they need better power output going forward and especially a right-handed power bat going into 2027.<\/p>\n![\"Cincinnati](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/01m1141nq4z0sqa6tczy.jpg\" "\\"Cincinnati")
<\/p>\n![\"Cincinnati](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/01m116b96skvb8knck02.jpg\" "\\"Cincinnati")
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