Slugger Eugenio Suárez and the Cincinnati Reds are in agreement on a one-year, $15 million contract that includes a mutual option for the 2027 season, sources tell ESPN. The best bat left on the market goes to Cincinnati, where he's expected to get most of his at-bats at DH.
MLB Notebook: Suárez returns to Reds, Hicks traded to White Sox, France’s market heating up
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
By Thomas Hall
Feb 2, 2026, 11:30 ESTUpdated: Feb 2, 2026, 11:55 EST
Baseball will return next week, with pitchers and catchers reporting for spring training across the sport. But that doesn’t mean transaction season is over quite yet.
A few teams around the industry are putting the final touches on their rosters before the off-season wraps up. In doing so, the last remaining position player domino fell in free agency over the weekend, further thinning out an already depleted market.
The best hitter still available is, at long last, off the board and set to return to a familiar destination, which brings us to the first nugget from the latest news cycle.
Eugenio Suárez Signs With Reds
It’s back to Great American Ball Park for Suárez, who, after inking a one-year deal worth $15 million on Sunday, will return to Cincinnati after spending seven seasons with the franchise from 2015-21. The deal also includes a 2027 mutual option at $16 million, but doesn’t feature any buy-outs.
The 34-year-old bat-first infielder will likely serve as the club’s primary designated hitter, while also occasionally filling in at third and first base. Suárez’s signing is still pending a physical and hasn’t officially been confirmed yet.
Suárez supplied immense power across 159 games split between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners last season, matching his career high with 49 home runs. He also slugged .526 and drove in 118 runs, posting a 125 wRC+ (100 league average).
The veteran slugger possesses a high-power, low on-base profile at this stage of his career, which likely hindered his value on the open market. Not to mention, the right-handed-hitting DH also struggled at the plate post-trade deadline, slashing .189/.255/.428 with a 91 wRC+ in 53 games with the Mariners.
Still, for a Reds lineup — which ranked 21st in home runs (167) and SLG (.391) in 2025 — that desperately needed a middle-of-the-order thumper, bringing in Suárez to supply protection behind Elly De La Cruz and TJ Friedl figures to be a worthwhile decision.
Former Blue Jays Reliever Lands in Windy City
The Jordan Hicks starter era appears to have reached an unceremonious conclusion.
Hicks, who’s expected to return to the bullpen this season, was shipped off to the Chicago White Sox in a salary-dump trade on Sunday, alongside fellow right-hander David Sandlin, two players to be named later and cash considerations.
In return, the Boston Red Sox — who acquired Hicks as part of the package from last year’s Rafael Devers blockbuster with the San Francisco Giants — received right-hander Gage Ziehl and a PTBNL.
The Chicago White Sox have acquired right-handed pitchers Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin, cash considerations and two players to be named later (PTBNL) from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for right-hander Gage Ziehl and a PTBNL.
Additionally, Boston will cover $8 million of the remaining $24 million still owed on Hicks’ contract, which runs through the 2027 season.
Those savings could be used to further augment a Red Sox roster that’s added the likes of Ranger Suárez, Sonny Gray, Johan Oviedo and Willson Contreras this winter. But whether they’ll follow through on this opportunity remains to be seen.
Ty France’s Market Beginning to Move
Several clubs appear to be expressing interest in France’s market, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive. Among the teams reportedly involved are the D-backs, Yankees, Mets, Padres and a few others.
As reported last night, Diamondbacks are in on Carlos Santana as a free agent 1B target. They've also talked to Ty France, per source, though France has a robust market. Mets and Yankees have been involved with him, plus Padres and others. That market is moving.
France arrived in Toronto last season alongside former Twins teammate Louis Varland. But he only appeared in 37 games with the Blue Jays, mustering a .277/.320/.372 slash line with seven extra-base hits — including one home run — and eight RBIs, accounting for a 92 wRC+.
The 31-year-old first baseman won his first career Gold Glove award after leading the majors at his position in outs above average (+10), trailing only Atlanta’s Matt Olson in defensive runs saved and fielding run value.
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