Of all the names being linked to the Seattle Mariners ahead of the trade deadline, none may be more appealing to the franchise’s fans than Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suárez.
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With his power-hitting stroke and “good vibes only” mantra, Suárez quickly became a fan favorite during his two-year stint with the Mariners from 2022-23.
He would be much more than just a familiar face welcomed back with opens arm if the M’s traded for him, though. The 28 home runs and .877 OPS that Suárez has posted this year would be a much-needed addition to a Mariners lineup that has lacked a slugging presence at the hot corner. Entering Wednesday, the M’s ranked 25th in the league with a .352 slugging percentage at third base.
The Mariners also know Suárez’s power can play even in the pitcher-friendly environment at T-Mobile Park since he hit 53 home runs in his two seasons with the club.
However, this year’s deadline is shaping up to be a seller’s market with few truly impactful bats thought to available. So if the Diamondbacks decide to move Suárez, the competition to acquire his services will likely be a heated one.
That competition could very well include the New York Yankees, a pair of longtime ESPN MLB insiders recently told Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk.
“Suárez would look great (in a Mariners uniform), that’s for sure,” David Schoenfield said Wednesday. “The trouble is the Yankees need a third baseman. They’re just moving Jazz Chisholm back to second base. There’s a couple of other teams that could use a third baseman. So, Suárez, if Arizona does look to trade him, he’s going to be a very hot commodity. He’s an all on the All-Star team this year, having a great year. But boy, I’d like to see him hitting cleanup behind Cal Raleigh. Wouldn’t you guys?”
And last week, Buster Olney said this: “I think Suarez absolutely on paper would be perfect fit for the Yankees. And I’m sure that they are monitoring this closely.”
What each team has to offer
Beating out the Yankees to acquire a player in free agency is always a tough task for a team with a smaller payroll like the Mariners, but doing so on the trade market isn’t nearly the same challenge.
In fact, the M’s were able to outbid the Yankees in 2022 when they sent four prospects to the Cincinnati Reds to acquire Luis Castillo, who was the top starting pitcher on the market before that trade deadline. It was a move that helped the Mariners end their 21-year playoff drought, while New York was forced to settle for second prize in the form of Frankie Montas, who posted a 6.35 ERA and minus-0.6 WAR over eight starts after a trade from Oakland.
The situation could play out similarly this year, too. The Mariners feature a league-high nine prospects in MLB Pipeline’s top 100 rankings. Meanwhile, New York has only one.
So if it become a bidding war between the Mariners and Yankees to acquire Suárez, the M’s are the ones who have the most firepower to unload.
Hear the full conversation with ESPN’s David Schoenfield at this link and Buster Olney at this link. Listen to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
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• Cal Raleigh unseats Ken Griffey Jr. in Seattle Mariners’ record books
• Seattle Mariners Draft Profile: The bigger Holliday brother, Ethan Holliday
• The good signs Hyphen saw from George Kirby’s last start
• The Seattle Mariners apparently came close to trading King Félix – twice
• Salk: Dreaming big on three Seattle Mariners trade targets
