Full Breakdown
Reds Place Veteran Slugger Eugenio Suárez and Outfielder TJ Friedl on Outright Waivers
8/27/2026, 11:49:17 PM
Core Event – Waiver Placement
On August 27, 2026, the Cincinnati Reds placed third-baseman/designated hitter Eugenio Suárez (35) and outfielder TJ Friedl (31) on outright waivers. The move makes both players available to the other 29 MLB clubs for a 48-hour claim period. If claimed, the new team assumes the remainder of their salaries—roughly $3 million for Suárez and $700,000 for Friedl. Should they clear waivers, they remain on the Reds’ roster for the final weeks of the season.
Background & Context
The Reds signed Suárez to a one-year, $15 million contract in February, with a $16 million mutual option for 2027. Friedl entered his first arbitration-eligible season on a $3.8 million deal and was a non-tender candidate. By early May the Reds were tied for the NL Central lead, but a slide to 63-71 left them out of contention.
Data & Statistics
- Suárez: .208/.295/.410, 19 HR, 57 RBI, -0.4 bWAR, .705 OPS in 103 games; missed a month with a left-oblique strain.
- Friedl: .158/.242/.234, 3 HR, 11 RBI, -0.9 bWAR, .476 OPS in 76 games; lost his regular center-field spot and spent June in Triple-A.
- Remaining salaries: Suárez ? $3 M; Friedl ? $700 K.
- Team record at the time: 63-71, nine games behind the final NL Wild-Card spot.
Official Statements & Responses
The Reds have not issued a formal comment; internal sources cite the financial motive and the expectation that neither player will return for 2027.
On-the-Ground Reports
Suárez’s grand slam on August 26, 2026 sparked a seven-run ninth-inning rally that lifted Cincinnati to a 10-9 win over the Giants. Rookie outfielder Hector Rodriguez said, “Truly, it feels great. I never thought the ball was going to land that far.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Most outlets (e.g., *The New York Times*, Field Level Media) report that both players cleared waivers and will stay with the Reds for the series against the Cubs. Earlier reports from *WLWT* and *Sportsnet* only noted the filing without confirming the outcome. No team has publicly claimed either player.
Verbatim Quotes
- “MLB’s other 29 clubs can claim either player during a 48-hour period before the waivers expire. The likelihood is both will clear and remain with the club, unless the Reds move to cut ties by designating one or both for assignment,” — Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic
- “The moves, at least in part, are an attempt by the Reds to save money. Suárez, 35, is owed slightly less than $3 million for the rest of the season; Friedl, 31, slightly more than $700,000,” — Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic
What’s Next
If the players remain unclaimed, the Reds can keep them through the season or later designate them for assignment. The club is expected to non-tender Friedl and decline Suárez’s 2027 mutual option, making both free agents after the season. The waiver deadline of August 31 determines postseason eligibility for any claiming team; a claim by a contending club is unlikely.
