The Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a blockbuster four-player trade overnight, one that may ship slugging third baseman Eugenio Suárez again to the Pacific Northwest in alternate for 3 gamers: first baseman Tyler Locklear and right-handed pitchers Hunter Cranton and Juan Burgos.
As is custom each July, we right here at CBS Sports activities rejoice every notable commerce by providing immediate evaluation and grades as they cross the wire. Under, you may discover our takes on the Suárez settlement, full with a letter grade for every crew. First, although, let’s revisit the swap’s parameters:
- Mariners obtain: 3B Eugenio Suárez
- Diamondbacks obtain: 1B Tyler Locklear, RHP Hunter Cranton, and RHP Juan Burgos
Now, onward.
Mariners grade: A
Suárez, who narrowly averted a severe harm earlier this week on successful by pitch, returns to Seattle, the place he spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons earlier than then being shipped to the Diamondbacks for a package deal of Carlos Vargas and Seby Zavala. For sure, the circumstances of his reentry — and the standard of the payout — are fairly a bit completely different than they have been on that trustworthy day again in November 2023.
It will depend on how the ultimate day of the buying and selling season performs out, however Suárez could nicely go down as the highest place participant moved this month. At minimal, he may very well be the most effective infielder. There are some blemishes value figuring out about: he is an impending free agent and he is not a lot of a defender, so do not anticipate him to supply a protracted worth tail or patrol the recent nook with a vacuum. Nonetheless, the Mariners have been OK with these flaws as a result of he’ll now type one of the vital spectacular one-two slugging punches in all the majors alongside catcher Cal Raleigh — and can present a large offensive improve on the sizzling nook, the place the M’s have ranked within the backside third of the league in manufacturing.
Suárez will be a part of the Mariners having hit .248/.320/.576 with 36 dwelling runs and 19 doubles. He ranks fifth in dwelling runs, with Raleigh checking in at No. 1. One of the simplest ways to attain runs is to hit the ball over the fence, and the Mariners now have their very own model of — if not Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, one thing nearer to Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker.
It is honest to level out that Suárez’s time in Seattle wasn’t fairly as affluent as his time in Arizona. The Mariners’ ballpark ranks 24th out of 28 MLB fields in terms of right-handed home-run park factor. Odds are, Suárez isn’t going to launch as many dwelling runs the remainder of the way in which as he would’ve had he remained with the D-backs or … nicely, went to simply about another crew. That does not imply it is a dangerous commerce, it simply implies that some further understanding is critical.
Apart from, these Mariners have an opportunity to overhaul the Astros within the American League West, and a possibility nonetheless to assert home-field benefit all through the postseason. It will not be straightforward, by any means, however they’ve improved their possibilities right here — and so they’ve accomplished so with out touching the highest of a powerful farm system. Contemplating how tough this deadline is shaping as much as be, as far as discovering official middle-of-the-order hitters, this must be thought-about a worthwhile deal.
Diamondbacks grade: C
On condition that Suárez certainly appeared to be the most effective offensive participant available on the market, and provided that the Diamondbacks may have waited till nearer to the precise deadline to make a transfer, this looks like a considerably disappointing return primarily based on the profiles they acquired: a right-handed-hitting first baseman and two relievers, certainly one of which went unpicked in final yr’s Rule 5 draft.
Locklear, 24, is a former second-round decide who was promoted to the majors on Wednesday to take Luke Raley‘s place on the lively roster. He had heretofore spent the season in Triple-A, hitting .316/.401/.542 with 19 dwelling runs and 18 stolen bases. Locklear hits the ball exhausting — his common exit velocity in Triple-A was north of 90 mph, and he is been on a tear since making a mechanical adjustment in June — and he completely has energy to all fields.
On the identical time, Locklear has whiffed on practically 30% of his swings this season. For reference, Suárez has swung and missed on round 32% of his makes an attempt — with all of these coming versus big-league competitors. Consider how Locklear is simply a right-right first baseman, a profile most groups roll their eyes at anymore, and there is loads of stress using on his skill to influence the baseball in opposition to the highest pitchers on the planet.
Cranton, 24, was a third-round decide in 2024. He is pitched solely out of the bullpen relationship again to his platform yr at Kansas, making him a pure aid prospect. In 10 appearances this season, he is compiled a 0.90 ERA and a 4.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In principle, there is a energy arm right-hander right here who may trot via the minors. In follow, issues seldom go based on plan in relation to pitching prospects — notably those that work in aid.
Burgos, 25, debuted within the majors earlier this month and has since made 4 appearances. He is largely spent the yr within the minors, break up between Double- and Triple-A, compiling a 0.87 ERA and a 3.44 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Burgos is an east-west pitcher who delivers the ball from a low slot and depends on horizontal motion. His arsenal features a mid-90s sinker, a low-90s cutter, and a mid-80s sweeper, with the cutter serving as his prime bat misser. He figures to fit into the Diamondbacks bullpen, both instantly or imminently, with an opportunity to carve out a task.
It is to be seen what the Diamondbacks can get from this trio. Maybe Locklear turns into a fixture in the course of Arizona’s lineup, and/or possibly each Cranton and Burgos can work their method into high-leverage conditions. In that case, this deal will age nicely sufficient. Because it stands, although, it is most likely OK to really feel a contact underwhelmed by this package deal contemplating the power of the Mariners’ system and the paucity of comparable offensive expertise accessible.