Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Veteran third baseman Eugenio Suarez is one of the more interesting players available in free agency this winter, especially considering the type of season that he just had. Suarez split time between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners this year, and he put together an extremely solid performance.
However, his first-half numbers were much more impressive than his second-half statistics, and this could impact his free agency. While with the Diamondbacks for the first part of the year, Suarez was was monster, slashing .248/.320/.576 with 36 home runs and 87 runs batted in.
The veteran was traded to the Mariners deadline, but his numbers quickly dropped heavily. Following the move to Seattle, Suarez only hit 196/.255/.428, hitting 13 home runs with 31 runs batted in.
His strikeout rate is also very high, and interested teams will be wary of this concern. However, it is tough to pass up on adding a player who can hit around 50 home runs a year, even with his decreased production in the second half of the year.
Seattle would love to bring him back, but the price tag could push them out of a comfortable range. This could open the door for another team to land him, and he could be a perfect stopgap option for any club.
It remains to be seen how his free agency will play out, but Suarez is among the better hitters available. His age, 34, could also play a role in the type of deal that he gets, but all it takes is one team to offer him a lucrative contract.
This is just a prediction, NOT a report!
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Eugenio Suarez Picks Pittsburgh Pirates
Over the first few weeks of the offseason, there have been a few surprises in the rumor mill. But none have been bigger than the Pittsburgh Pirates being rumored to want to spend money this offseason.
It seems that the Pirates could be looking to make a splash this winter, especially considering that the young core they have has shown some real promise. Pittsburgh can be an attractive baseball destination for players, and if they are truly willing to spend some money, they could land a player like Suarez.
Suarez would fit in well alongside these younger guys, and he could be a solid veteran presence for the team. Adding his power bat could help the Pirates potentially compete for a playoff spot if all goes well for the rest of the team.
But the Pirates seem to want to get back to being competitive after multiple years of being toward the bottom of the league. Suarez could help with this, and he could be the guy to help bring this once-proud franchise back from the grave.
While Suarez isn’t the perfect player, he would still give this team more to put fear into opposing teams going forward. This potential signing could be an investment or both this season and beyond, helping the Pirates to establish themselves once again.