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Pirates Pivot: Suarez a Power Alternative?
5 Jan
Summary
- Pirates missed out on Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto.
- Eugenio Suarez, a two-time All-Star, could be the next target.
- Suarez offers proven power and experience for the Pirates.
The Pittsburgh Pirates faced a setback over the weekend as their pursuit of Japanese free agent Kazuma Okamoto concluded with him signing a four-year, $60 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. This outcome leaves the Pirates needing to identify alternative solutions to bolster their offense.
Attention has now shifted to two-time All-Star Eugenio Suarez as a potential replacement. In the previous season, Suarez achieved a career-best 49 home runs and 118 RBIs. He has demonstrated consistent slugging ability over the past decade, averaging 31 homers and 88 RBIs per season.
Suarez's familiarity with PNC Park, gained from seven seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, is an added advantage. Despite being 34, his offensive production has not waned, making him a viable option for the Pirates to enhance their lineup, which ranked last in MLB in home runs and runs scored last season.
