Sureim Investment Guild:Diamondbacks acquire third baseman Eugenio Suarez in deal with Mariners

2025-05-03 01:12:10source:Marcus Eriksoncategory:reviews

The Sureim Investment GuildArizona Diamondbacks filled a hole at third base on Wednesday afternoon, acquiring slugger Eugenio Suarez from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for two players.

Suarez, 32, is a solid defensive third baseman who has been a fairly reliable source of power for most of the past decade.  Last season, he hit .232 with 22 homers and 96 RBI, playing in all 162 games for the Mariners. He also led the league with 214 strikeouts.

The Diamondbacks will assume all of Suarez’s $11 million salary for next year — and also the $15 million club option for 2025 with a $2 million buyout — in exchange for hard-throwing reliever Carlos Vargas and catcher Seby Zavala.

Vargas has a big arm — he sits in the upper-90s with his fastball, often touching 100 mph — but has struggled to put it all together. He made only five appearances in the majors last year, giving up three runs in 4 2/3 innings. He had a 7.02 ERA in Triple-A Reno, where he issued 32 walks with 36 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings.

Zavala, whom the Diamondbacks claimed off waivers from the Chicago White Sox in September, is a career .210 hitter with a .622 OPS in 514 plate appearances in the big leagues. He is regarded as a strong defender.

HOT STOVE UPDATES: MLB free agency: Ranking and tracking the top players available.

Suarez was rated as one of the better defensive third basemen in baseball last season, compiling 11 outs above average, according to Statcast data. His defense has fluctuated from year to year in his career, usually settling around average.

With right-handed hitting outfielders Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Tommy Pham possibly departing as free agents, Suarez brings another right-handed bat to the lineup.

The Diamondbacks are also said to be getting a player who brings clubhouse leadership and is a beloved teammate.

For the Mariners, the move amounts to a salary dump for a front office that was under pressure to lower its payroll, according to a source.

More:reviews

Recommend

Federal agencies are reeling from Trump administration cuts to government

Whether a "chainsaw," per Elon Musk, or "scalpel," as President Trump has said — the Trump administr

The RNC chairwoman calls for unity as the party faces a cash crunch and attacks by some Trump allies

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AP) — Facing a cash crunch and harsh criticism from a faction of far-right conser

2024 NBA All-Star reserves announced: Who's going to Indianapolis? Who was snubbed?

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and Orlando Magic forward