The Seattle Mariners could use some good vibes as they chase a playoff berth.
They might have acquired those late Wednesday night.
The Mariners, who open a 10-game homestand Thursday against the Texas Rangers, reportedly re-acquired slugging third baseman Eugenio Suarez in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, pending physical examinations.
In exchange, the Mariners reportedly sent three minor-leaguers — first baseman Tyler Locklear and right-handers Hunter Cranton and Juan Burgos — to the Diamondbacks.
Suarez, who played in Seattle from in 2022-23, was considered the biggest bat available on the trade market. He is batting .248 with 36 home runs and 87 RBIs, the latter tied with Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh for the most in the majors.
“Super excited. It’s a great move,” Raleigh said. “Very, very excited for it. Obviously, we know how great a guy is, how great he’s playing this year. Great, great add.”
The Mariners certainly could use Suarez’s pop. They averaged just 3.1 runs per game in going 3-4 on their just-completed trip against the Los Angeles Angels and the Athletics, the bottom two teams in the American League West.
Despite home runs from Julio Rodriguez, Jorge Polanco and Randy Arozarena, the Mariners lost 5-4 to the host A’s on Wednesday in West Sacramento, Calif., as All-Star Bryan Woo surrendered four solo shots.
Suarez was a fan favorite in Seattle with his “good vibes only” mantra.
“He’s pretty much everything you look for in a teammate,” Raleigh said. “He’s supportive. Super nice. Keeps it light in the room. Always positive. And you add on to that, he’s a great player. He’s uplifting. Brings guys together. We saw that when he was here the first time, and we were obviously all sad that he left, but we’re happy that he’s coming back.”
The Rangers are 9-3 since the All-Star break to pull into a second-place tie with Seattle in the AL West race, five games behind the Houston Astros.
Texas won 6-3 Wednesday against the host Angels as Adolis Garcia went deep and Nathan Eovaldi earned his 100th career victory. The result allowed the Rangers to avert a three-game sweep.
“Every game is big for us right now,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. “The last thing we wanted was to come in here and lose three, so this was a big, big win for us. … We needed this one in the worst way.”
The Thursday series opener is scheduled to feature a pair of right-handers, the Rangers’ Kumar Rocker (4-4, 5.73 ERA) and the Mariners’ George Kirby (5-5, 4.50).
Rocker is 3-0 over his past seven starts, though he didn’t get a decision Saturday in a 6-5 victory against the visiting Atlanta Braves in a game that went 10 innings. Rocker allowed three runs on five hits over four innings, with three walks and five strikeouts.
Rocker is 0-1 with a 4.05 ERA in three career starts against the Mariners. The decision came April 12 at Seattle when he gave up four runs — three earned — over 3 1/3 innings of a 9-2 defeat. He received a no-decision vs. the Mariners on June 28 after permitting two runs in six innings.
Kirby has dominated the Rangers, going 7-0 with a 1.15 ERA in nine previous starts against them. Overall, he has won four of his past five starts, compiling a 2.72 ERA in that span.
–Field Level Media
