As MLB free agency slowly comes to an end, there are still major moves being made. While some are bigger than others, many names have been swept under the rug or have failed to receive much attention, especially considering the current landscape of the league and how much drama there was in January.
Bo Bichette said goodbye to Toronto and took his talents to the Big Apple, ending a bittersweet tenure with the Jays in one of the most heartbreaking ways imaginable. Kyle Tucker chose the most frustrating route in free agency, signing with the Dodgers after months of speculation that he was going to end up on a different contender. Finally, José Ramírez signed an extension with Cleveland, barring anything major, this move could make him a Guardian for life.
The heavy hitters are what make free agency so exciting, but let’s look at some of the signings that have more meaning behind them.
Eugenio Suárez – Cincinnati Reds (1yr, $15 million)
At one point in his career, it was almost inevitable that Eugenio Suárez would end up back in Cincinnati. The former Red spent over five years in Ohio — a place that he considers home — where he hopes to play the rest of his career.
“I said at the time, maybe I end my career in Cincinnati and five years later here I am,” Suárez said.
The Reds acquired the third baseman after a great season with the Seattle Mariners in 2025, where he hit 49 home runs along with 118 RBIs, which placed him fifth and fourth in their respective categories. The 34-year-old has played third base for most of his career, but now as a member of the Reds, he will most likely be playing designated hitter, with Ke’Bryan Hayes playing the role at third as one of the best in his position.
Suarez’s free agency saga was one of the more interesting points of the year, as he was one of the sport’s best hard contact hitters in 2025, yet he signed just a one-year deal. His batting average is something to be wary of each season, most recently .228, but his undeniable home-run-hitting prowess and passion he brings to the game are unlike many in the majors today.
As for the team, the Reds are one of the most exciting young squads in the game. They managed to squeeze into the playoffs in 2025, where they lost to the eventual champion, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in two games in the divisional round, though the team showed a lot of promise.
Elly De La Cruz is the team’s cornerstone and fan favourite, but what he lacked in overall slugging, Suarez brings to the table and then some.
“I’m here now to help the team, not to be a superhero, but to be my best version and put everything on the field, do my best, try to help the team win games. That’s more important to me,” said Suarez.
Overall, this move only makes the Reds better. With young up-and-comers laced throughout their bats and arms, Cincy can surprise a lot of teams this year if everything goes to plan.
Framber Valdez – Detroit Tigers (3yr, $155 million)
After somewhat of a down year for the left-hander, Framber Valdez recently signed an astounding deal with the Tigers to further catapult the team to a whole new level. Valdez has been one of the league’s most reliable starting arms since the turn of the decade. He’s put up some unbelievable performances over the past few years for an Astros team that has seen mixed levels of success, including his legendary 2022 World Series where he pitched two games for a 1.46 earned run average (ERA).
Not to say that he had a terrible season last year, but like the rest of Houston’s roster, he fell apart through some stretches of games and ultimately lost some games for the team. Valdez is still one of the most dangerous pitchers in the league, regardless of a few mishaps last season.
With Terik Skubal now signed for another year with the Tigers, the righty-lefty duo looks to be one of the nastiest pairings in the majors.
Detroit is in win-now mode, and they decided to play it safe with the Dominican star by signing Valdez to a three-year deal rather than one that would have him on contract well into his thirties. Valdez, 32, is not old by any means, but if his shaky play is any indication of falling off, the team won’t be responsible for him for too long.
Much like the Suarez move, this deal has more positives than it does negatives. Detroit can hopefully put its trust in Valdez — someone who’s proven over the years that he can pitch at a very high level for extended periods.
Luis Arraez – San Francisco Giants (1yr, $12 million)
Another short-term deal for a former all-star, Luis Arraez, comes to the Giants after a less-than-impressive season with the Padres for his standards. From 2022-24, Arraez was one of the league’s best bat-to-ball hitters, claiming the batting title for three consecutive years. If last season was just a one-off slump, San Francisco may have just found themselves a very good baseball player in a packed free agency class.
Yes, Arraez is a high-average hitter with a lot of upside, but his numbers tend to dip when he reaches the playoffs — a problem that some Giants players have faced in recent postseason appearances.
He will be playing alongside some very solid players in the infield, including Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers and Willy Adames, giving him some leverage if anything goes wrong. The Giants have been dying to get back into contention for a while now, and Arraez is sure to bring some life back to the fans and franchise.
It will be interesting to see what kind of impact these three players make on their new teams. Whether good or bad, there’s no question that new faces in new places are always fun to see in baseball.