Eugenio Suárez hitting waivers creates perfect Tigers opportunity to right a wrong

Late on Wednesday night, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the Reds have placed Eugenio Suárez and outfielder TJ Friedl on outright waivers. It's a small salary dump — Suárez is owed about $3 million, Friedl around $700,000 — but neither player has exactly earned their keep this season with their work at the plate.

Still, this may give the Tigers a second chance to add a veteran slugger to the end of their lineup down the stretch, after declining to do so at the trade deadline. Scott Harris heavily alluded to discussions having taken place for Suárez with the Diamondbacks at last year's trade deadline, but Troy Melton is thought to have been Arizona's price. Fans that had been clamoring to get Geno back in Detroit and were incensed at Harris' inaction had to change their tune.

But how about now, when the Reds can't ask for Melton or even an unranked prospect? If all the Tigers, whose payroll shrunk after trading Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize, have to pay him is $3 million?

They would not be eager to supplant Kevin McGonigle or Hao-Yu Lee at third base, but Suárez is spending most of his playing time as a DH these days. That's a position they usually like to keep fluid, but the Tigers have resorted to DH'ing Corey Julks these days. They could make an exception for Suárez.

Reds place former Tigers third baseman Eugenio Suárez on waivers

Although the Tigers' hopes of a playoff push are dwindling, they might have a best-of-all-worlds solution in Suárez. At first blush, Tigers fans get a reunion with a former player close to the end of his career, who Detroit infamously gave up too soon. If he's bad, the experiment only lasts a few weeks. If he's anywhere between serviceable and great, they have a bat that could revitalize an offense that's been missing production from key players like Dillon Dingler and Riley Greene.

Tigers fans know what we would be getting. Suárez strikes out a ... lot, but the power is still there. He has 16 doubles, 19 homers, and 57 RBI in 103 games this year. He's also a known vibes guy, and the clubhouse could use an infusion of life.

It could look something like this. Claim Suárez, DFA Corey Julks. When Greene comes off the IL, option Brett Callahan with assurances it would only be throughout the rest of the season.

It would force AJ Hinch into territory he hasn't tread often with the Tigers, creating lineups that are a little more static, and it would be a small risk, given Suárez's age and declining productivity. But given where the Tigers are right now — nine games under .500 and 5.5 out of a Wild Card spot — the benefits might outweigh the risks.

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