I don’t think you’d have to be following the rumor mill too closely to know a number of the implications attached to the latest from Jon Heyman.
Another third base option for the Nationals, perhaps:
Nats have talked to the Reds about 3B Eugenio Suarez. Nothing imminent or believed anywhere close. Kieboom would make sense in a package. Prospects the Nats don’t want to deal: Rutledge, Cavalli, Garcia.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 18, 2020
Important caveat there up front: what’s being reported is merely that there have been talks. Nothing is close. Of course, there were multiple reports about the Nationals and Kris Bryant, but those have been eagerly and aggressively rebuffed in the public eye by the Nationals.
That’s one of the obvious implications here, by the way. Perhaps the Nationals do want Bryant, but want to push back on the Cubs in as many ways as possible, from public rebukes to floated rumors of interested in another NL Central third baseman?
And there’s another obvious implication. Suarez, who absolutely kills the Cubs, is one of the best hitters on an NL Central rival, so if the Reds were to move him, the impact in the near-term would be significant (and, if the Reds make a good deal, it would be significant in the long-term, too).
But speaking of the deal, there’s another implication: if the Reds were getting only Kieboom and much lesser prospect(s), that’s not much of a return for the 29-year-old Suarez, who is on a very affordable contract through 2024 (plus a club option for 2025). Do the Nationals have the right pieces to acquire Suarez, especially if the Reds make him available to other teams, too?
Then again, Suarez is coming off his worst year in five seasons, after dealing with injury issues, rating below average defensively, and squeaking out a slash line just a tick above average. Maybe a contract that guarantees him nearly $47 million over the next four years doesn’t look all that exceptional right now? (Still more valuable than Bryant at one year and $20 million, though, I’d reckon.)