Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez and outfielder TJ Friedl cleared waivers and will remain with the organization, according to reports from MLB.com and The Athletic. According to MLB.com, the club did not officially confirm the transactions. By placing both players on waivers, the Reds made them available to all 29 other Major League Baseball clubs before the expiration of the waiver window.
The waiver period coincided with the annual roster rules for postseason eligibility, which require players to clear waivers if they are to be added to a playoff roster after a certain date.
Eugenio Suárez Remains With Reds Despite Power Slump
Suárez is completing a one-year, $15 million contract after returning to Cincinnati following an earlier eight-season stint with the franchise. According to MLB.com, the 35-year-old infielder has batted to a .705 OPS with 19 home runs across 103 games this season. His overall batting line sits at .208/.295/.410, a performance impacted by a nearly month-long injured list stint for an oblique strain.
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Despite his offensive struggles, Suárez showed signs of life at the plate prior to the waiver period. According to The Athletic, he hit .210/.315/.483 with 11 home runs over a 42-game stretch, highlighted by a grand slam that propelled the Reds to a comeback victory shortly before he was placed on waivers.
TJ Friedl Clears Waivers Amid Career-Worst Production
According to MLB.com, the outfielder recorded a .476 OPS in 76 games, the lowest mark among 274 hitters with at least 250 plate appearances. Friedl spent a portion of June in the Minor Leagues to work through his slump.
The Athletic noted that Friedl’s defensive range in center field saw a decline, leading the Reds to deploy him primarily in left field. With a salary approaching $4 million for the 2026 season and roughly $630,000 remaining on his contract, other franchises passed on claiming the outfielder.
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