Could a reunion with Eugenio Suárez start to make sense once again?
Could Seattle once again reunite with their beloved slugger?
The Mariners jumped the market early this offseason by re-signing Josh Naylor to a team-friendly deal. They also pulled the trigger on another big need, acquiring a high-leverage arm in Jose Ferrer to assist a bullpen that ran deep into October.
Seattle has yet to address their other large need, an infielder that can provide some flexibility to the roster and impact to the lineup. The Mariners have been linked to Brendan Donovan and Ketel Marte, and the former appears to be their preference. The infield market is loaded with options this offseason, and some of those options began to dwindle Friday with a three-team trade sending Brandon Lowe to Pittsburgh.
The market for Donovan and Marte appears to be what is holding up the infield market overall. Seattle is rumored to be “the favorite” in a Donovan deal, but the longer it takes for a move to be made, the more skeptical I am that one gets done. Donovan is a great fit positionally because of his ability to play in the outfield and at second and third, two positions of need. If Seattle doesn’t make a deal with St. Louis or Arizona, no other player out there fits as perfectly.
Instead of the second base versatility they clearly prefer, the Mariners may need to pivot to a corner infielder who could handle first base. This is where old friend Eugenio Suárez could come into play.
Now, listen, I understand the skepticism here. Geno wasn’t exactly stellar down the stretch after being traded to Seattle, and at 34 years old, he doesn’t have a skillset that projects to age well. Suárez could also have plenty of suitors, including the Pirates, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, Cubs, Reds, Tigers, and Phillies could all make sense for the slugging third baseman.
There are plenty of issues with these clubs regarding their interest in Geno. Pittsburgh may offer the most money here (crazy, right?), but would the veteran third baseman want to play for a non-winner? Boston could be a fit if Alex Bregman walks, but probably only on a short-term deal. The Reds have KeBryan Hayes and other infield solutions, and the Cubs, Tigers, Phillies, and Diamondbacks don’t necessarily need an infielder. All or most of those options could do something creative and use the 34-year-old at DH or first base.
Seattle reportedly made contact with both Geno and Jorge Polanco to express interest in a reunion. However, it was reported that Polanco was much more likely, and any interest in Geno would likely only work on a 1-2 year deal. The Mariners haven’t been able to address their infield need to this point, finding itself in a staring contest with St. Louis over prospect prices.
