With the month of August winding down, the MLB waiver wire is about to heat up. Over the next few days, non-contending teams will likely place veteran players on waivers in an attempt to save some money over the season’s final month. Contending teams will have a chance to add players to their roster in time for the August 31st deadline for postseason eligibility. Earlier this week, baseball fans got the first bit of news about players who are available, with the Cincinnati Reds placing infielder Eugenio Suarez and outfielder TJ Friedl on waivers. In the case of Suarez, I think it could be a great opportunity for the White Sox to add some power to their bench and move on from a roster redundancy.
Suarez, 35, spent the majority of his big league career in Cincinnati, but has floated between a few teams over the past few years. Suarez had multiple stints in Seattle and a stint in Arizona before returning to the Reds on a one-year, $15 million deal this offseason. After a 2025 season that saw him slug 49 home runs and make the All-Star team, it’s been a struggle for Suarez this season. In 103 games for Cincinnati, he’s hitting just .208 with 19 home runs and a .705 OPS. In August, however, he has a 134 WRC+, so he’s started to turn it up as of late. Suarez also hit three home runs in the playoffs for the Mariners in 2025, so he has recent experience on the big stage.
Eugenio Suárez GRAND SLAM!
— MLB (@MLB) August 26, 2026
The @Reds have scored 5 in the 9th 👀 pic.twitter.com/UWUaJRquh9
Suarez could provide much-needed power on the White Sox bench
The White Sox lineup already leads the American League in runs scored and there isn’t a clear place in the starting lineup for Suarez, but the team has very little power off the bench. With Luisangel Acuna and Brenton Doyle, the White Sox have a pair of players who primarily contribute with speed and defense. Acuna played some outfield early in the season but has mostly served as a backup shortstop since then. With Chase Meidroth and Sam Antonacci able to play middle infield, his role on the roster isn’t completely necessary. Brenton Doyle serves the same purpose as a late-game pinch runner, and probably has more offensive upside than Acuna. Outside of Randal Grichuk, the bench is light-hitting.
Adding Suarez would cost the White Sox approximately $3 million for the rest of the season, and every team below them in the standings would have a higher waiver priority than they would, so the chances of him being available for the White Sox probably aren't high. Still, I think it’s worth a gamble. According to reports, Suarez was placed on waivers on Tuesday, and the waiver period is 48 hours, so the teams should find out shortly.
The White Sox may still prefer Luisangel Acuna’s youth and control, but his offensive upside is severely limited. Acquiring a veteran slugger with recent history of playing in the Postseason is a more important priority for the 2026 team. While the primary attention for the White Sox on waivers should be adding pitching, they can’t let an opportunity like this go by without an honest attempt.
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