Risk/Reward Equations Regarding Eugenio Suarez Trade To Seattle Mariners

August 1, 2025 adminsr

ATLANTA, GA – JULY 15: Eugenio Suárez #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts after throwing to first for an out in the ninth inning during the 95th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Truist Park on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Within one week, the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks made two impactful trades that could change the direction of each franchise.

Seattle Mariners president of baseball operations, Jerry Dipoto, has acquired both the slugging corner infielders of the Diamondbacks.

First baseman Josh Naylor, and All Star third baseman Eugenio Suarez now play for Seattle.

Diamondbacks executive vice president/general manager, Mike Hazen, has injected his Dbacks roster with five young Mariners prospects, each ranked in the Top 30 on most Mariners prospect lists.

On July 24, Hazen traded Naylor to the Mariners for prospect LHP Brandyn Garcia, and prospect RHP Ashton Izzi.

In the very early morning hours July 31, Hazen traded Suarez to the Mariners for prospect first baseman Tyler Locklear, RHP Hunter Cranton, and RHP Juan Burgos.

Within one week, the Mariners had obtained two slugging infielders, both on expiring contracts.

Within one week, the Diamondbacks acquired five Mariners prospects they feel will help stabilize their franchise for the future. Especially the Dbacks pitching depth.

Risk v. Reward Equations:

Trades are often evaluated in terms of risk v. rewards for both teams.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners in action against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 27, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

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Mariners:

For the Mariners, the risk concerns the fact both Naylor and Suarez can become free agents after the World Series.

What if one or both of them don’t produce the type of offense the Mariners are expecting? What if, in fact, Naylor and Suarez don’t lead the Mariners into the playoffs, and possibly a World Series Championship?

What if either or both Naylor and Suarez choose to leave the Mariners after their contracts expire?

But, what if either or both Naylor and Suarez can boost a Mariners lineup that already includes Julio Rodriguez, Cal Raleigh, and Randy Arozarena as proven power threats.

fangraphs.com proposes that Naylor will hit 5th, with Suarez hitting 6th, giving the Mariners Rodriguez, Raleigh, Arozarena, Naylor, and Suarez to contest with consecutively.

The rewards can be substantial.

Diamondbacks:

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 27: Brandyn Garcia #55 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on July 27, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

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The Diamondbacks are facing quite a different risk/reward equation.

There was no guarantee either Naylor or Suarez would have extended their current contracts with Arizona.

Even if either or both wanted to return, the Diamondbacks player personnel budget may not have been accommodating.

In essence, the Diamondbacks have traded two months of the present, for years of player control of five viable prospects for years to come.

Of course, prospects are just that. Prospects. No track record in Major League Baseball. For this old scout, the difference between the minor and major leagues is as vast as the Grand Canyon.

But in reality, for Arizona, the risks are virtually non-existent. The rewards could be outstanding.

Arizona Diamondbacks designated hitter Eugenio Suarez runs back to the dugout after flying out to Detroit Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

About Suarez Eugenio:

Eugenio Suarez was an international free agent signing by the Detroit Tigers in 2008.

In 2014, at the age of 22, Suarez made his major league debut with Detroit.

The Tigers traded Suarez to the Cincinnati Reds on December 11, 2014.

On March 14, 2022, the Reds traded Suarez to the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners traded Suarez to the Arizona Diamondbacks on November 22, 2023.

Now, Suarez lands back with the Mariners. But will it be for two months, or longer this time?

Suarez has appeared in two All Star Games, in 2018 with Cincinnati, and this past July with Arizona.

In parts of 12 seasons so far, Suarez is hitting .248/.330/.465/.796, with 312 home runs, 918 RBIs, and 804 runs scored.

This season is Suarez’ best so far. When he left the Dbacks, he was hitting .248/.320/.576/.897, with a massive 36 home runs, and 87 RBIs.

During one stretch, from July 12-July 21, Suarez hit seven home runs. Seven homers in six games.

Suarez had two homer games on both July 19 and July 20, against the St. Louis Cardinals.

It was during his electric home run binge that trade rumors surrounding Suarez soared.

Suarez has not homered since. In fact, he had only two hits in his last seven games.

Perhaps the pending trade rumors impacted his performance.

Make no mistake, however, Suarez is a threat to go deep in any park. And he can be especially difficult to face in his new loaded Mariners lineup.

On the day Suarez was traded to Seattle, the Mariners trailed American League west division leading Houston Astros by five games.

It will be fascinating to see if Josh Naylor and/or Eugenio Suarez can help jolt the Seattle offense to a division crown.

At this point in the MLB calendar, it appears the Mariners have assumed some risk in trading for Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez. They have traded five good prospects, for two players capable of leaving the team after the season.

For their part, the Dbacks had very little to lose by trading two pending free agents, and acquiring five highly regarded prospects in return.