Seattle Mariners fans might be in for a shock this offseason. After a rollercoaster 2025 campaign, the team is quietly reconsidering a reunion with Eugenio Suárez, the third baseman who struggled in the back half of the season and underperformed in the playoffs. Despite posting a 94 OPS+ over 220 plate appearances and a lackluster .700 OPS in 51 postseason trips to the plate, Suárez remains a name that commands attention. Why? Because in a lineup desperately lacking pop, even imperfect power hitters hold value.
The Mariners’ hot corner has been a headache. Affordable, high-impact options are scarce, and the young players on the roster—Ben Williamson and Colt Emerson—may not yet be ready to carry the load. Outside of marquee free agents like Alex Bregman, names like Yoán Moncada and Isiah Kiner-Falefa hardly move the needle, and the trade market heavily favors sellers. Suddenly, a familiar face in Suárez starts to look appealing, if only for his home run potential.
And the numbers tell a nuanced story. Suárez tied his single-season record with 49 home runs in 2025, ranking fifth in homers on the Mariners despite playing just over 50 games. That’s no small feat in a lineup where only four players cleared the 20-home-run mark, one of whom—Jorge Polanco—has since departed in free agency. His contributions aren’t flawless, but they are tangible. The question now becomes: how much should Seattle pay to bring him back?
MLB Trade Rumors projected a potential deal of three years, $63 million—a sum that would likely make Suárez the second-highest paid player on the team at $21 million per year. For a team balancing a tight payroll and the development of young talent, that figure is daunting. It pushes Seattle well beyond its comfort zone, especially for a player whose upside is tempered by strikeout issues and inconsistent contact.
A more reasonable benchmark may lie in the contract recently signed by Munetaka Murakami. Murakami, another power-hitting third baseman with similar contact concerns but younger and less experienced against major league pitching, agreed to a two-year, $34 million deal. By comparison, Suárez’s age—he will be nearly 35 by Opening Day 2026—suggests that even a similar deal could be an overpay. Mariners management will likely weigh a shorter contract with a lower average annual value, keeping the team’s financial flexibility intact while avoiding long-term commitment to a player whose prime years may be behind him.
How Suárez is deployed also affects his value. If Seattle envisions him as a regular third baseman, his defensive responsibilities remain significant. But a shift toward the designated hitter role could reduce pressure, potentially boosting his offensive production while protecting younger infielders’ development. In this scenario, Suárez’s contract would resemble that of Mitch Garver—$24 million over two years—rather than Murakami’s, highlighting how positional expectations shape financial strategy.
Ultimately, sources close to the organization suggest the Mariners should avoid exceeding a two-year, $30 million ceiling. Crossing that line risks limiting resources for other impactful talent and could interfere with opportunities for prospects ready to emerge. While the market for Suárez has been relatively quiet, allowing Seattle some leverage, paying too much would be a gamble that could have long-term consequences for the roster’s construction.
The decision comes down to a delicate balance: retain a power bat who could provide immediate lineup support, or conserve resources to nurture younger talent and pursue higher-impact acquisitions elsewhere. Mariners fans, analysts, and rival executives alike will be watching closely as negotiations unfold. One thing is certain: whatever figure is ultimately offered will send a clear signal about the team’s priorities for 2026 and beyond.
In a market where third basemen are rare, imperfect players with pop like Suárez suddenly appear more valuable than their stats suggest. Seattle has an opportunity to secure a known quantity—but only if they’re willing to draw a hard line on price. Exceeding it could jeopardize more than just their hot corner. The Mariners’ choice in the coming weeks could reshape the infield and the team’s financial strategy for years to come—and insiders are already bracing for the fallout.
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