The Seattle Mariners were already having a pretty good trade deadline. Then they went out and got the top bat on the market.
Drayer: What adding Eugenio Suárez means for Mariners’ lineup
Their re-acquisition of two-time All-Star Eugenio Suárez from the Arizona Diamondbacks is being seen by baseball insiders as one of the top additions leading up to Thursday’s 3 p.m. deadline, and the top addition involving a major league hitter. By the way, the Mariners may have also made the second best addition of a hitter when they got first baseman Josh Naylor last week also from Arizona.
ESPN, The Athletic and CBS Sports have all graded the Mariners’ pickup of Suárez an A.
Eugenio Suárez surprised the M’s by catching team flight to Seattle
The reception for the Diamondbacks’ return of three prospects – first baseman Tyler Locklear and relievers Juan Burgos and Hunter Cranton – is more mixed.
ESPN and CBS Sports graded Arizona’s side of the deal a C, while The Athletic actually went as high as an A-minus.
Here are excerpts of what the three outlets had to say about the Suárez trade.
Seattle Mariners’ trade for Suárez
• David Schoenfield, ESPN
“Give (Mariners president of baseball operations) Jerry Dipoto some credit here. He acquired Suárez and Naylor without giving up any of Seattle’s top 10 prospects – a group that includes seven or eight top-100 overall prospects – or rookie second baseman Cole Young, who was a top 100 guy before graduating to the majors earlier this season.”
• R.J. Anderson, CBS Sports
“The best way to score runs is to hit the ball over the fence, and (with Suárez and Cal Raleigh) the Mariners now have their own version of — if not Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, something closer to Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker.”
• Sam Blum, The Athletic
“It signals to everyone that they intend to do everything they can to win a championship. In a season of parity and mediocre first-place teams, the Mariners are trying to set themselves apart.”
Arizona Diamondbacks’ return for Suárez
• David Schoenfield, ESPN
“Given Suárez’s impact power and the need of several playoff contenders at third base, this return feels a little low – especially given the arguably bigger returns for rental relievers Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley. But (Arizona general manager) Mike Hazen saw his list of potential trade partners limited after the Yankees acquired Ryan McMahon, the Reds traded for Ke’Bryan Hayes and the Cubs and Tigers perhaps focused just on adding pitching. By waiting, the Diamondbacks might have received less than what they could have a few days ago. That might be underselling Locklear though.”
• R.J. Anderson, CBS Sports
“Perhaps Locklear becomes a fixture in the middle of Arizona’s lineup, and/or maybe both Cranton and Burgos can work their way into high-leverage situations. In that case, this deal will age well enough. As it stands, though, it’s probably OK to feel a touch underwhelmed by this package considering the strength of the Mariners’ system and the paucity of comparable offensive talent available.”
• Sam Blum, The Athletic
“(Locklear is) a tough player to lose, no doubt, and a good return for Arizona. Especially when you consider they traded Josh Naylor, their Opening Day first baseman, to Seattle last week. The D-backs get a legitimate building block.”
More on the Seattle Mariners
• Mariners trade with Pirates for lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson
• Passan: How Josh Naylor gives the Mariners an edge
• Mariners get ESPN’s best grade for an early trade deadline move
• Drayer: Ichiro shows wisdom, gratitude, humor in HOF speech
• Seattle Mariners’ addition of Naylor looks great in two surprising ways
