Cincinnati third baseman Eugenio Suarez lost his arbitration hearing against the Reds, reports Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports (Twitter link). Suarez and his agents at Octagon had filed for a $4.2MM salary, while the Reds countered with a figure of $3.75MM (as reflected in MLBTR’s Arbitration Tracker). Suarez will earn that $3.75MM salary for the upcoming season, and he’ll now have a lower launching point for the subsequent arbitration raises for which he is in line in the next two offseasons.
Suarez, 26, was in his first trip through the arbitration process this winter on the heels of a strong .260/.367/.461 batting line with 26 homers, 25 doubles and a pair of triples. The former Tigers farmhand, who came to Cincinnati in exchange for righty Alfredo Simon, has blossomed into the everyday third baseman for the Reds in recent years and was among the top all-around third basemen in the National League this past season. In addition to his fine work at the plate, Suarez turned in strong marks of +5 Defensive Runs Saved and a +5.8 Ultimate Zone Rating.
The Reds can enjoy that strong, well-rounded production for at least the next three seasons, as Suarez can be controlled through the 2020 campaign via arbitration. It stands to reason that even after agreeing on a salary for the coming season, the Reds could yet hold interest in brokering a longer-term pact for Suarez that would extend him beyond his arbitration seasons. Of course, the Reds have been undergoing a lengthy rebuilding phase and, depending on the team’s results this season, could ultimately look gauge interest in him on the trade market as well.
With Suarez’s case now wrapped up, the lone remaining case for the Reds is that of Scooter Gennett (Arb Tracker link). Gennett filed for $5.7MM, while the team submitted a $5.1MM sum.
The Reds need to extend him with a similar deal to Barnhart’s.
Agreed. It’s gonna take much more money to get Suarez signed, but they for sure need to extend him to a cheap deal
Yah but if i were him only do a one or to year deal like springer. His stocks is very high but that is his best option
Pay the man!
funny that they are quibbling over 500k and JDM feels like his offer is a slap in the face.
Lol I wonder if Suarez is “fed up” lol
Suarez is future star. Hope this doesn’t jade him.
Schwarz predicted 4.4 mil for Suarez. Kind of surprised arbitrator felt a guy who hit 26 homers and plays very good defense is only worth 3.75 mil especially when Donaldson got 23 mil this year. I’m sorry but statistically speaking Donaldson is not more than 6 times better than Suarez.
This was Suarez’s first time through arbitration while Donaldson just went through his last time. I don’t think you know how arbitration in the MLB works..
Suarez is a stub! Time to open the check book, reds…
I have to agree….He’s a pretty good stub, but he’s an even better stud….
Money talks and bullshit walks. If he has another solid year the man will get paid. 3.75 million ain’t chump change! Go Reds
Arbitration takes into consideration both last season and his cumulative career stats to date. While 2017 was a bust out year his work before then was unremarkable for a 3rd baseman. Now that there’s a figure for 2018 they have a platform from which to put together a longer term deal if both sides are interested, Reds should be
Suarez had a very solid 2016 too, his first year getting regular playing time. Guy got shafted (in comparison to other mlb players).