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With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, the Seattle Mariners, currently holding a playoff spot, are aggressively shopping for offensive upgrades, particularly at the corner infield positions. According to multiple reports, Seattle is eyeing Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez, two heavy-hitting sluggers who could inject much-needed power and consistency into the Mariners’ lineup.
Suárez, now with the Arizona Diamondbacks, is widely considered the most coveted bat on the market. The veteran third baseman is having a monster year with 36 home runs and 86 RBI, making him an attractive, though expensive, trade piece. His contract and widespread demand may push the asking price out of reach for some teams, but not Seattle, whose deep farm system gives them the flexibility to make a serious push if needed.
Meanwhile, Naylor represents a potentially more realistic acquisition. The 2024 All-Star and pending free agent is slashing .292/.360/.447 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI in 93 games this season. ESPN’s David Schoenfield projects Seattle will successfully land the 28-year-old first baseman, calling him a “solid contact hitter” and a great fit for a team that currently ranks in the bottom 10 in MLB strikeout rate.
While Schoenfield admits acquiring both Naylor and Suárez is unlikely, he doesn’t rule it out entirely. “If the Mariners are willing to take on the salaries, unlikely, although if they offer a strong package of prospects, maybe Arizona kicks in some cash, they could acquire both Naylor and Suárez and build a lethal lineup,” he wrote. Pairing Suárez behind Cal Raleigh, Seattle’s MVP-calibre catcher, could create one of the league’s most dangerous middle-of-the-order combinations.
Beyond the infield additions, the Mariners are also expected to pursue bullpen depth and possibly a right-handed bat to upgrade from Dylan Moore or Donovan Solano.
But the focus, at least for now, remains on adding one of these two high-impact infielders. Naylor, with his ability to make contact and drive in runs, would not only strengthen the Mariners’ playoff push but also provide much-needed protection for Raleigh, who is putting up historic numbers behind the plate.
With an elite pitching staff already in place, the offensive reinforcements could be the final piece Seattle needs to make a legitimate postseason run.