Law: Mariners upgrade with Eugenio Suárez, D-Backs get 3 prospects

New York Times

3 days ago

The Seattle Mariners continued to actively upgrade their big-league roster, swapping three players to Arizona for old friend Eugenio Suárez, who gives them an easy boost at a position of great weakness this season.
Suárez is in the midst of one of the most unexpected bounceback seasons of 2025, maybe of the last five years. This is a guy who looked like he might be toast in 2023, and burnt toast in 2021, yet at age 33, he's posting the best wRC+ of his career and already has more homers (36) than he has in any year but one (2019, when he hit 49). The Mariners have gotten five home runs from third basemen this year. It won't be hard for Suárez to be better than that, although he'll give back some value on defense.
I wouldn't want to invest in Suárez beyond this year given his age and the trend of his career before 2025, but as a rental, he makes a ton of sense for the Mariners, who once again made a move without giving up any of their elite prospects.
Tyler Locklear, 24, has had an outstanding year as a Triple-A repeater who even had 45 PA in the majors last year, with a .316/.401/.542 for Tacoma and strong peripherals. I've never been a big believer in the bat, as good velocity gives him trouble — for example, he's whiffed on a third of the fastballs 95+ he's swung at this year in Triple A — and he's never been great against same-side breaking stuff. It's more power (at least 60 game power) than hit, so he'll get to a handful of homers if Arizona gives him enough playing time. But he'll probably carry a low batting average and OBP. The Mariners tried him at third base, his college position, back in 2022, and it didn't go well, so it's first base or DH.
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Right-handed reliever Hunter Cranton has a great arm, at 96-98 mph with an above-average slider, and throws strikes, with a history of arm problems. He missed the first three months of this year due to a concussion, only returning from a rehab assignment on July 2, and has yet to pitch above High A even though he'll turn 25 in October. He was a third-round draft pick last year.
Right-hander Juan Burgos, an international signee in 2019, debuted for the Mariners this year. He's a straight reliever who comes from a lower slot, pitching very east-west with a sinker, cutter and sweeper, showing just a small platoon split in the minors despite the arm angle. The 25-year-old could probably go right into Arizona's bullpen and give the D-Backs several years of competent relief work, as he has at least average control and the arm slot will keep him tough on righties.
Moving Suárez also might clear space for infielder Jordan Lawlar to get an extended look in the majors once he returns from yet another hamstring strain, which has had the 23-year-old on the IL for Triple-A Reno since June 26. Lawlar has mashed for the Aces, who play in a ridiculously favorable hitter's park, and went 0-for-19 with nine strikeouts in a brief major-league stint. He's got little left to learn in Triple A, especially in that home environment, and giving him consistent playing time in the majors whenever he's physically able is the best thing for his development.
(Photo of Suárez: Norm Hall / Getty Images)