Cincinnati Reds clear roster with waiver moves for Suárez and Friedl
The last-place Reds have placed Eugenio Suárez and TJ Friedl on outright waivers, a strategic decision that carries significant financial implications for any claiming team.
The Cincinnati Reds have placed designated hitter and third baseman Eugenio Suárez and centre fielder TJ Friedl on outright waivers, according to a report by The Athletic. The move, announced on Thursday morning, signals a significant roster adjustment for a club currently sitting in last place in the National League Central with a 63-71 record.
The waiver process presents a distinct financial calculus for other Major League Baseball franchises. If neither player is claimed within 48 hours, both will remain on the Reds' payroll. However, any team that claims a player must absorb their respective contract, a factor that may influence the speed and likelihood of a claim.
Suárez, 35, is in the midst of a one-year, $15 million deal that includes a $16 million mutual option for 2027. He is due approximately $3 million for the remainder of the current season. The veteran, who played for the Reds from 2015 to 2021 before returning last offseason, has recorded 19 home runs and 57 RBIs this year, with a .208/.295/.410 slash line.
Friedl, 31, is under team control through 2028 and is due roughly $700,000 for the rest of the season. The Reds are reportedly unlikely to offer him a contract for next season. Friedl has spent his entire six-year MLB career with Cincinnati and is currently posting career lows in several categories, including a .158/.242/.234 slash line.
The timing of the waiver move follows a notable performance on Wednesday, when the Reds defeated the San Francisco Giants in a seven-run comeback. Suárez hit a grand slam in the top of the ninth inning, contributing to what is being described as the largest ninth-inning comeback in franchise history since 1958.
For the Reds, the decision balances immediate roster flexibility against long-term financial commitments. With the team in last place, the waiver mechanism offers a potential pathway to shed salary or acquire assets, provided another club is willing to take on the associated contractual obligations.
