Arguably, the best bat came off the board late on July 30. The Diamondbacks traded Eugenio Suarez to the Mariners, bringing the 34-year-old back to Seattle, where he spent two seasons and helped the M’s break their lengthy postseason drought in 2022.

The Mariners’ Return

• 3B Eugenio Suarez (.248/.321/.577, 36 HR and 54 XBH over 105 GP)

Mariners fans know Eugenio Suarez well, so there’s not too much to explain. Especially when taking into account the kind of season Suarez is having.

The 34-year-old smacked 36 home runs over his first 105 contests this season, and he drove in an MLB-best 87 runs. Even though it’s not August yet, Suarez’s home run output is his highest in a season since the 2019 campaign (49), a year that saw many players set career-bests in home runs.

A pull-heavy hitter who elevates the baseball with regularity, Suarez still strikes out a lot. However, his 26.8% K% would be his lowest since the 2018 campaign.

Defensively, Suarez’s -5 OAA is below the league average, a sharp difference from his career. Suarez is traditionally a solid defender at third base.

The 34-year-old was traded to Arizona in November 2023 for Seby Zavala and reliever Carlos Vargas, part of an offseason that saw the Mariners shed significant salary. Aside from Suarez, the Mariners traded away Robbie Ray and lost Teoscar Hernandez in free agency.

Suarez is a free agent at the end of the 2025 season.

The Diamondbacks’ Return

• 1B Tyler Locklear (.316/.401/.542, 19 HR and 45 XBH in 98 GP (AAA))
• RP Juan Burgos (4.05 ERA, 8 K over 6 IP (MLB))
• RP Hunter Cranton (.90 ERA, 14 K over 10 IP (ACL and A+))

Tyler Locklear is an MLB piece, as the 24-year-old spent time briefly in 2024 and 2025 with Seattle. Locklear was just called up on July 30 to replace an injured Luke Raley on the Mariners’ roster.

The former second-round pick hit very well in Triple-A Tacoma this season. He ranked fifth in on-base percentage (.401), while his 19 home runs were tied for fourth alongside Marco Luciano (Giants) and Shay Whitcomb (Astros).

Locklear’s shown pop and promise across his Minor League career. However, he had a penchant for expanding the zone. He posted a sub-30% Chase% in Triple-A, at 28.2%. That’s lower than the 34% rate he had in the Majors last season, so one thing to watch will be whether he cuts that down at the MLB level going forward.

The other two players involved are both relievers: Juan Burgo and Hunter Cranton.

Burgos, a 25-year-old, pitched his way to the Majors this season after striking out 31 over 31 between Double-A and Triple-A, all while posting a sub-1.00 ERA. Across four outings at the MLB level, Burgos elicited chases at a rate of 35.6%.

The 25-year-old worked with five pitches at the MLB level, including a sinker, changeup, and sweeper. His most-used pitch is a “slutter,” one that sits in the low-90s with characteristics of both a cutter and slider.

Cranton, meanwhile, was a third-round pick last year out the University of Kansas. The right-hander, who boasts a fastball that can hit the triple digits, has limited pro experience. He struck out 38 over 25 frames last year as a Jayhawk.

Analysis

The Mariners have taken their lineup to the next level, to say the least.

With the addition of Suarez, the Mariners have two of the top five home run hitters in the league (Cal Raleigh is first with 41). And more importantly, have amassed a lineup that includes several hitters capable of hitting 20 to 30 annually, including Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez, and Josh Naylor. Naylor, acquired last week, was a teammate of Suarez in Arizona.

It’s a deep lineup, one that will be tough to pitch around. That’s the goal, as the Mariners are looking to get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

Arizona, meanwhile, gets a first baseman back in Locklear. With Josh Naylor gone, the D-Backs have been using former third-round pick Tristin English at first base. However, Locklear has more upside and could be an immediate addition to the Diamondbacks’ lineup.

Additionally, the Diamondbacks continue to stockpile relief pitcher prospects. Burgos and Cranton join Brandyn Garcia, acquired in the Naylor trade.

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