The Arizona Diamondbacks made a significant move for the 2024 season on November 22 by acquiring Eugenio Suárez from the Seattle Mariners. As the Diamondbacks aim to strengthen their roster, Suárez’s arrival brings anticipation and curiosity about how his skills and performance will translate in his new environment. A known power bat, Suárez joins a young team coming off a World Series in need of production from the hot corner.

Since his MLB debut back in 2014, Suárez established himself as a powerful force during his tenure with the Cincinnati Reds. Known for his prowess at the plate, Suárez has been a consistent home run hitter and a reliable run producer. As the Diamondbacks look to enhance their offensive capabilities, Suárez’s track record suggests he could be a valuable asset in achieving that goal.

His primary strength lies in his ability to hit for power. In 10 years in the big leagues, Suárez has consistently demonstrated his home run-hitting capabilities, making him a feared batter at the plate. In his career, he has had seven campaigns in which he hit at least 20 home runs. In his first season with Seattle in 2022, he hit 31 home runs followed by 22 home runs during the 2023 season. His knack for the long ball will be of great interest to the Diamondbacks after they finished 22nd in the league in home runs (166) and 17th in slugging percentage (.408).

The team had five players hit 10 or more home runs last season. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (24) and Evan Longoria (11) are now free agents and the team is looking to replace some pop to boost the lineup. Suárez gives them a solid option with the potential for 30 home runs to boost the production at third base after the Diamondbacks saw their third basemen hit a lackluster .234/.303/.340 in 2023.

He’s likely not going to help in terms of batting average and is going to add plenty of strikeouts. His 30% strikeout rate last season is something the Mariners just didn’t want anymore as they aimed to refocus their plate approach preferences. The Diamondbacks had one of the lowest team K% last season, making him an easy add because they can either help him improve or at least manage the hit of his numbers because he will boast a 10% walk rate of his own.

Suárez’s presence in the Diamondbacks’ lineup could have a ripple effect on the team’s batting order. His power-hitting capabilities may lead to strategic decisions by the coaching staff, potentially reshuffling the lineup to maximize offensive production. If desired they can slot him in at the three or four spot, or down to fifth or sixth to length the lineup and provide more production in the lower half. The protection he provides to other hitters in the lineup could create favorable situations for the team to score more runs and give him an opportunity to drive them in. He comes off a season in which he drove in 96 runs, which would have been second on the Diamondbacks.

The change to Chase Field will also be helpful for the slugger as the Arizona ballpark will provide some more favorable conditions for hitting as opposed to the humid weather in Seattle. It will be interesting to see how Suárez adapts to his new surroundings and whether the change affects his hitting style or power numbers.

Beyond his offensive prowess, Suárez brings defensive versatility to the Diamondbacks. 2023 saw Suárez produce one of his best defensive showings at the hot corner. Statcast credited him with 11 Outs Above Average while he also recorded -2 defensive runs saved, which all things considered about his career was quite good. It’s not going to be flashy and he isn’t likely to win a Gold Glove there, but it gives them a stable glove at the position with a player that could play shortstop in a pinch, learn how to play first base more, or simply slot in as the designated hitter. His durability will be helpful since he played in 162 games last season and has played in 140+ games in all but two full seasons.

The addition of Suárez also comes at a reasonable price for the Diamondbacks. He is owed $11 million in 2024 with a $2 million buyout of a $15 million club option. The team is close to their payroll amount of 2023 and not far off from their franchise record in 2018, but for a team primed to spend and build on a World Series-caliber team, Suárez is cost-effective for at least one season.

The addition of Eugenio Suárez to the Arizona Diamondbacks brings excitement and anticipation for what he can contribute to the team. His offensive prowess, defensive flexibility, and adaptability to a new environment make him a player to watch. Paired with the likes of Corbin Carroll and Christian Walker, the Diamondbacks now have a prime corp of sluggers that can build upon their ability to get on base and swipe bags and then have more pristine offensive threats to drive in runs and support their pitching staff.