D-backs Acquire Third Baseman Eugenio Suarez from Mariners
The Diamondbacks have confirmed they have acquired third baseman Eugenio Suarez from the Seattle Mariners. Backup catcher Seby Zavala and minor league reliever Carlos Vargas will be heading to Seattle.
The 32 year old Suarez is a veteran of 10 major league seasons. Originally signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent out of Venezuela in 2011, Suarez made his major league debut for that organization in 2014. Traded to the Cincinnati Reds after 2014. He played seven seasons with the Reds before getting traded to the Mariners two years ago.
Suarez is under contract for $11.3 million in 2024 with a team option for $15 million in 2025 or a $2M buyout. He immediately fills the Diamondbacks need for a right handed hitting third baseman with power. Suarez has 246 career homers in 5,530 plate appearance. His triple slash is .248/.332/.456, .788 OPS, good for a 110 OPS+. Suarez hit 49 homers in 2019, and 31 in each of 2021 and 2022. His last several seasons have seen him somewhat challenged in the batting average and on base categories. Last year he hit .232/.323/.391, .714 OPS, 101 OPS+. That line included 22 homers and 96 RBI.
Suarez has a career OPS of .844 against left hand pitching and .770 against righties. Last year that split was .744 vs. LHP and .706 vs. RHP. He's extremely strikeout prone, leading the league in that category three times in his career, including last year when he struck out 214 times. His strikeout rate of 30.6% is the 8th highest in MLB over the last three seasons.
He is very durable however, playing in all 162 games last year, and very seldom missing time over the past eight years, playing in 95% of all possible games.
Suarez defense at third base generally rates at or slightly below average but passable. Since 2018 he's averaged -4 defensive runs saved according to baseball reference. Baseball Savant's Outs Above Average metric rates him exactly +0 over that same span however.
Vargas was acquired in trade from the Cleveland Guardians during last year's offseason, and made the Diamondbacks opening day roster. He struggle with control and was optioned early in the year and never made it back to the major league roster after posting an ERA over 7 for the Reno Aces.
Zavala is a veteran back up catcher who the D-backs picked up in September from the White Sox. He was not eligible for the post season roster.
Stay tuned to Inside the Diamondbacks for further updates and reaction later today
