What’s left for Pirates at third base after Eugenio Suárez signs with Reds

The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t lose Eugenio Suárez because they wouldn’t pay him. They lost him because history, ballparks and comfort still matter.

Suárez — who ranks sixth in MLB in home runs since 2018 — chose a one-year, $15 million reunion with the Cincinnati Reds, complete with a mutual option for 2027. According to sources, the Pirates matched the money and were even willing to go higher in AAV and add a second guaranteed year.

That says that Pittsburgh wasn’t bluffing this winter, but it also underscores the reality that one aggressive offseason doesn’t erase a decade of perception overnight. Now the holding pattern is over. The Pirates can — and should — finish this offseason with clarity at third base. The remaining paths are imperfect, but they’re workable.

Pirates' remaining options at third base after Eugenio Suárez signs with Reds

If the Pirates want impact without committing long-term dollars, the trade route could be where they pivot.

Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm is probably the cleanest fit on paper. An All-Star in 2024, he hit .280 with a .779 OPS and produced 3.0 bWAR. He’s in his final year of arbitration at $10.2 million — expensive by Pirates standards, but not prohibitive.

The catch? Philadelphia won’t give Bohm away, especially after losing the Bo Bichette sweepstakes in free agency, and Pittsburgh would need to decide if a one-year solution is worth real prospect capital.

Another option is Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung, who offers more team control and more volatility. He was an All-Star as a rookie in 2023 (23 homers, .781 OPS), but injuries and inconsistency have dragged his OPS down to .693 across the last two seasons. This is a bet on health and upside — not certainty.

There's also Isaac Paredes, who is intriguing and uncomfortable at the same time. He hit 20 homers with an .809 OPS last year, but with Carlos Correa moving to third, the Houston Astros could listen. The concern mirrors Suárez: right-handed pull power meeting PNC Park’s North Side Notch. The bat plays, but the park might not.

Roster math in Queens could open a door for the Pirates to make a trade with the New York Mets. Mark Vientos is the classic bounce-back play. His 2025 line (.223/.702 OPS) was rough, but in 2024 he crushed 27 homers, posted an .837 OPS and logged 3.1 bWAR. He’s a right-handed hitter, yes — but he’s more than a three-true-outcomes slugger and brings some positional flexibility.

Brett Baty is the safer, lower-ceiling option. A left-handed bat with a .748 OPS and 3.1 bWAR last season, he brings balance to a lineup that skews righty. The downside? Limited power (33 career homers) and less game-changing upside. If Pittsburgh wants reliability, Baty fits. If they want to swing for value, Vientos does.

There’s also the simplest, least dramatic option: signing Miguel Andújar in free agency. He would give the Pirates flexibility at third and across the corner outfield spots. If a trade acquisition falters, Andújar can rotate, cover off days and keep the roster from collapsing. That matters over 162 games.

Missing on Suárez hurts — especially when he landed with a division rival — but it doesn’t end the Pirates’ offseason. In some ways, it clarifies it. Instead of desperation, this is now about choice: Bohm if they want certainty, Jung or Vientos if they want upside, Baty if they want balance, Andújar if they want coverage.

What the Pirates can’t do is stop here. If they were willing to meet — and exceed — Suárez’s price point, then fans are owed a comparable answer in talent. The money is clearly available. The momentum from December doesn’t vanish just because one door closed.

Third base is still unfinished business. How the Pirates close it will say far more than losing Eugenio Suárez ever could.