According to a report from Seattle Mariners insider Adam Jude, the Seattle Mariners are open to the possibility of a reunion with third baseman Eugenio Suarez, though it’s not as likely as it was before the signing of Rob Refsnyder.
The Mariners, sources say, are open to a reunion with Suárez, though their need for a right-handed bat isn’t as pronounced as it was before they signed veteran Rob Refsnyder to a one-year, $6.5 million deal last month.
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We’ve talked about the potential fit for Suarez for a while now, so let’s re-visit the situations at hand.
Now 34, Suarez is one of the best power hitters in the sport. He had 49 home runs last season between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Mariners, and he drove in 118 runs. He instantly upgrades the middle of any team’s lineup.
Power like that doesn’t grow on trees, but it comes with a price: Suarez is extremely streaky, and he hit just .228 overall in 2025 (only .189 with the Mariners). He had just a .298 on-base percentage and he struck out 196 times.
He did hit a grand slam in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, which is one of the biggest hits in team history.
A reunion would be complicated, quite frankly. Not impossible, but complicated. And lets factor this in: While we don’t know what Suarez will command on the open market, we know it will be significant enough for him to be a starter. If he comes to Seattle, he’s playing just about every day.
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If Suarez comes in as the everyday third baseman, then that’s a clean fit. Suarez would play third, J.P. Crawford would play shortstop, Cole Young would play second and Josh Naylor would play first.
The designated hitter spot could rotate between Refsnyder, Dominic Canzone, Luke Raley and Victor Robles, depending on the matchup.
The problem? Top prospect Colt Emerson is boxed out. And at 20 years old, that might be best for his development, but we’ve heard so much about his opportunity to make the Opening Day roster that it feels odd to shut him off from it now.
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And what about Ben Williamson? Is he on the roster as a backup infielder? And what happens to the likes of Leo Rivas, Samad Taylor, and Ryan Bliss if he is?
Is there a world where Emerson could get a look at second base and Young is the one boxed out? It’s all possible as the Mariners chase a World Series, but it’s clunky.
Let’s say that the Mariners really want to give Emerson or Williamson the primary job at third base. That’s great, they can just put Suarez at designated hitter then.
Ok…..
If Suarez is at designated hitter against righties, then Canzone would probably go to right field. So, then Luke Raley’s roster spot is redundant.
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If Suarez is at DH against lefties, then Refsnyder (who we know is playing every day against lefties) goes to right. Then? Victor Robles’s roster spot is redundant. Somebody would have to go, and do the Mariners want to do that?
If the Mariners give Emerson the primary third base job, could the Mariners really sit him against lefties, while allowing Suarez to play third and utilizing both Refsynder and Robles? Again, possible, but an odd decision.
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