PHOENIX —
Two years after trading away Eugenio Suarez, the Seattle Mariners have officially corrected what many fans saw as a major mistake. On Wednesday night, they brought the power-hitting third baseman back from the Arizona Diamondbacks — and with him, renewed hopes of a deep playoff run and possibly their first-ever World Series appearance.
Suarez, who has launched 36 home runs and driven in 87 RBIs this season, made MLB history by becoming the first player to hit 35+ homers before being traded midseason. His return brings much-needed power to a Mariners lineup that has struggled to consistently produce big hits.
Mariners catcher and MVP candidate Cal Raleigh expressed excitement over the reunion:
“He’s everything you want in a teammate — positive, fun, and a great player,” Raleigh said. “We were all sad when he left, but now we’re thrilled to have him back.”
This marks the second trade between Seattle and Arizona in just one week. First baseman Josh Naylor was also acquired by the Mariners in a separate deal. This time, Suarez was traded in exchange for Seattle’s No. 9 prospect Tyler Locklear, along with pitchers Hunter Cranton and Juan Burgos (ranked 16th and 17th respectively).
A Playoff Push With Real Power
The Mariners (57–52) are currently tied for the final AL Wild Card spot and trail the Astros by five games in the AL West. With a strong starting rotation featuring Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Luis Castillo, Bryan Woo, and Bryce Miller, Seattle already has one of the most feared pitching staffs in the league.
Now, with Suarez back in the mix, the offense finally has the firepower to match.
Over the last year, Suarez’s 53 home runs rank third in all of baseball, behind only Shohei Ohtani (60) and Aaron Judge (58). Paired with Raleigh’s 41 homers, the Mariners become just the second team in MLB history to enter August with two players having at least 35 home runs — a feat last achieved by the 1961 Yankees with legends Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle.
Righting a Past Wrong
The Mariners traded Suarez after the 2023 season, concerned about his declining batting average (.232) and league-high 214 strikeouts. Arizona acquired him in a low-cost deal, and Seattle saved $11 million. But things quickly turned — after a rough first half in 2024 where he hit just .193, Suarez exploded in the second half, batting .307 with 20 homers and a .942 OPS.
Now, Suarez is red-hot, the Mariners are surging, and a city starved for postseason success can dream again.
With the trade deadline approaching, Seattle may still look to add one more bullpen arm. But with their current roster — one that now includes a rejuvenated Eugenio Suarez — the Mariners might finally have what it takes to make franchise history.
