The Reds announced that third baseman Eugenio Suarez underwent surgery to remove loose cartilage from his right shoulder earlier today. The injury came about recently when Suarez was swimming, per the announcement. The team expects the 28-year-old Suarez to be ready to play in games “near the beginning of the regular season” but acknowledged that he’ll be “limited” early in Spring Training.
It’s an unwelcome development for the Reds, but the team has ample depth to withstand an absence from the slugging Suarez should he require some time on the injured list early in the year. Offseason signee Mike Moustakas, of course, has spent the majority of his career manning the hot corner, and highly touted youngster Nick Senzel has played third base more than any other position since being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft.
Then again, Reds general manager Nick Krall tells reporters (Twitter link via The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans) that Senzel isn’t likely to slot in at third base if Suarez isn’t ready to go come Opening Day. That still leaves open the possibility of utilizing Moustakas at third base and Senzel at second base, although Senzel is working back from his own shoulder surgery. If he’s not ready to go or the team prefers an alternative alignment, Josh VanMeter could also get a look at second base with Moustakas at third.
Depth aside, the loss of Suarez for even a brief period of time would be a notable blow to the Reds, who are clearly intent on returning to the postseason after an aggressive offseason of additions. Suarez’s power numbers have exploded over the past two seasons, including a 2019 effort in which he improbably flirted with the elusive 50-homer threshold. Dating back to 2018, Suarez has raked at a .277/.362/.550 clip (135 OPS+), hitting 83 homers, 44 doubles and four triples along the way. Even with Moustakas, Nick Castellanos and Shogo Akiyama joining the party in Cincinnati, Suarez was sure to be relied on as a vital middle-of-the-order threat.
Prior to that breakout, Suarez had already established himself as a quality option at the hot corner and at the plate, but the Reds have to be thrilled with the decision to negotiate a long-term extension just prior to Opening Day 2018 as opposed to the following offseason, as his price would have escalated considerably. As it is, the seven-year, $66MM deal to which Suarez agreed on March 16, 2018, looks like a coup for the Reds’ front office — even if it was one that carried some risk at the time of the signing. Suarez is set to earn $9.25MM in 2020 under the terms of that deal and will earn subsequent salaries of $10.5MM (2021) and $11MM (2022-24). The deal also contains a $15MM team option for the 2025 season, which comes with a $2MM buyout.
Shoulder injuries take forever to fully heal, he might be ready for opening day but it could effect his production in 2020 especially with power.
See: Marcell Ozuna.
And, Michael Conforto.
Kris Bryant 2018 cough cough..
Loose cartilage is a torn labrum. Bad, bad, bad.
In other words, he may take a little longer to get going but 30 homeruns and 85 rbi is still the likely outcome in the worst case scenario.
Its 2020 stop citing RBIs
It’s 2020, do as I say.
Baseball survived nearly 150 years without your bs comment regarding runs batted in.
I don’t know why people think RBIs aren’t important. Obviously not the most in depth statistic but still useful
Useful? Not quite. Superfluous. Using RBIs as an individual indicator is silly considering how many other players and circumstances are involved in the runs creation.
RBI’s are meaningless and yet getting a hit that scores a run is quite valuable. Maybe there’s another statistic for when your bat leads to a run scoring. BLTRS would be a great statistic. So much more valuable than RBI. And meaningful chats like, “What was his BLTRS?”
Nowhere in the comment did s/he say RBI are the best way to evaluate an individual player. But 30 HR & 85 RBI are an indication of Suarez’s power, his playing time, and the team’s overall offensive prowess.
Also, RBI, RBI, RBI!!! Just because I can.
This is the equivalent of a child having a tantrum. Well done.
They are an very flawed measure of several things that can best be measured in other ways, specifically the ability to hit in the clutch and hit with power combined with the ability of the hitters ahead of you to get on base and run the bases. Clutch may just be luck in a given season, Power can be measured with slugging percentage. And, the accomplishments of those that hit ahead of you, of course, doe not reflect on the hitter (unless the hitter is picking up what pitch is coming to the hitter before him and relaying it to them, but that’s another show).. RBIs are just that it is easy to count and doesn’t require a calculator.
What about grounding the ball to the second baseman’s left side to drive in the run from third. What metric besides rbi would measure that? I ask as I don’t know.
While I agree that RBIs aren’t a good indicator of talent, speculating or projecting a total is a fine thing to do in a baseball forum. Some of us love stats regardless of use and it has fantasy implications
That’s one of the major impediments of these dusty archaic stats. Pedestrian usage for fantasy sports and ammunition for cash craved agents. Sickening.
Some of us care to utilize stats to actually learn tangible aspects of a teams successes or failures or trends. But sure, have fun with your dumbass fantasy team.
Oh God, here we go…doesn’t your mom have your pizza rolls ready by now…
LMAO!
Should I have said that his drc+ will still be over 112 or would you rather me site wrc+ or exit velocity? See, I can do advanced stats just like everyone else. Just because RBI is old school doesn’t mean it’s useless. I bet his team appreciates his ability to drive in runs as the 3 hole hitter.
How old are you 12? It will always be RBI,s Metrics blah blah blah
He is a lock for at least 19 homers in 2020, which is the amount of times he faces the Cubs. I swear to god he at least hits one homer per game against the Cubs. lol
Hopefully not a lingering issue, & he is diligent about rehabing slowly not 2 rush back, he’s needed for the long haul
I hate that it’s his throwing shoulder. Nowhere to hide that except DH. Yeah. This sucks. At least we have some options, but I have to think that this delays trading Senzel away.
Hopefully it ends any thought of trading Senzel away. The Reds (and Senzel) have successfully converted NS into a CFr, why would you short that sale? A plus hitter and a plus fielder in CF is a rare commodity. Senzel should be part of the Reds’ core for years to come.
100% agree
This sucks. He’s the best player on the team. Good thing we have Senzel.
Reds – 78 win club at best !
88
I think you have the Reds confused with the Cubs. But hey, you guys had a big signing today.
Best trade in recent history for the Reds…. all the Reds gave up for this guy was Alfredo Simon….wow
Don’t you need RBIs to win a triple crown?
Another antiquated relic of a statistical triumph which should be put to pasture.
Pushups are great for strengthening the shoulders.
They are and pull ups. If it’s not ligament or any structural damage. He will be 100% by May.
damn this guy is too underrated
They are and pull ups. If it’s not ligament or any structural damage. He will be 100% by May.
Guess that scotches the Senzel trade rumors. It doesn’t hurt to pile up talent. You never know when some of the talent is going to get hurt.
Shoulder surgery a few weeks before spring training is not good news. Moustakas and Senzel may be spending significant time at third and second. And Senzel has injury worries of his own. The “outfield logjam” suddenly looks not so jammed.
Reds for sure don’t need him for ST- they got plenty of other guys who need as many at bats as possible. Give him all the time needed to get him to 100 percent
Then trade him for wander Franco : )
Surgery to remove cartilage is not the same as having a torn ligament or Rotator Cuff. He will be fine.
exactly, though I’ll rest easier once I see him in a lineup. The shoulder can be a tricky thing
“Improbably” flirted with the 50-homer threshold?! This guy had an MVP like season, yet everyone kicks dirt on him. I’d take him over Bryant any day of the week…
I think all he meant was 49 was a surprise to almost everyone, I know I didn’t see it coming. Flirting with 40, sure. It wasn’t meant to denigrate his ability. I do agree that he is vastly overlooked, even after last year, which I don’t understand
Gotcha…yeah, he didn’t get much love the last couple of years when he certainly deserved it…
Reds may back -off moving Senzel now as insurance if Suarez’s shoulder lingers longer than thought. But they could still move him and meet needs at the same time. Possibly a trade to the Rays for an established low cost back end/younger guy in Castillo or Alvarado to really add flexibility to their pen. Not as sexy as a Giles or Hader but makes them better in an area of concern. Both keep the ball on the ground, and in the ballpark with high KO’s per nine numbers.
And to protect 3rd base (and even when Suarez returns) add a GG type 2nd baseman in Joey Wendle.. That allows Moustakas to go back to third until necessary and provides depth when everyone is healthy. Rays may ask for a lottery prospect back in such a deal (young arm or a guy like Hinds who may be blocked at third base now),
I would actually like to see the Reds go after Adalberto Mondesi. Might not take much more than Senzel, all things considered.
No way Royals trade Mondesi. Merrifield maybe.
Thankfully they have Moustakas to play 3B. Injury could linger through the season.
Senzel isn’t going to play 3rd or 2nd…the Reds have plenty of options to fill in at 3B temporarily besides Senzel…a #2 overall pick with 6 years of control doesn’t get traded unless it’s for a major, starting big league piece