The Seattle Mariners aim to retain as many players as possible from their deep playoff run, but achieving that may be difficult. They’ve already secured first baseman Josh Naylor with a five-year deal, and bringing back second baseman Jorge Polanco also seems likely based on comments from the front office. That could leave third baseman Eugenio Suárez as the main question mark. Suárez actually had the strongest season of the three, tying his career high with 49 home runs. Most of his production came while he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks before the trade deadline, though his two-homer game including a go-ahead grand slam in Game 5 of the ALCS remains a highlight.
If the Mariners let Suárez walk, his next destination is uncertain. Both contending teams and rebuilding clubs could value his power bat on a short-term deal. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter suggested he may end up with a rebuilding team like the Washington Nationals, who have finished last in five of the past six seasons since their lone World Series win. Reuter noted that the Nationals are still a few years away from contention, and landing free agents could be difficult. He added that Suárez’s second-half slump and age (34) may limit him to two-year deals, making a team like Washington a likely landing spot.
Money is the main obstacle for another Mariners-Suárez reunion. The Athletic projects a three-year, $69 million deal for the two-time All-Star, which could make him either the top signing for a lower-payroll team or a secondary addition for a higher-payroll club. It’s been over five years since the Nationals made a notable free-agent move—will the Mariners watch them change that this offseason?