The Arizona Diamondbacks' decision to trade All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suarez to the Seattle Mariners before the 2025 deadline doesn't appear to be a productive deal for either club as of this writing, but Arizona does get some positives out of it.
Arizona returned Suarez to the team they originally needed him in 2024, and he's currently playing for the pennant team along with a host of other former D-backs.
In return, the Defenders get back first base prospect Tyler Locklear, right-hander Juan Burgos and right-hander Hunter Clanton.
None of those players had particularly successful seasons in Arizona, but Suarez's departure did force a previously overlooked player into an everyday role – the versatile Blazer Alexander. We analyze this surprising contribution in detail below.
But first, let’s take a look at the stats of the players involved in the trade:
Suarez became a deadline gem by hitting .248/.320/.576 with 36 home runs for Arizona. He drove in 87 RBIs and even hit a historic four home runs.
Once back in Seattle, the return hit hard. Although Suarez hit 13 homers in 53 games, he had an OPS of .883 with the Mariners and a hitting percentage of just .189. 13 home runs isn't insignificant, but his 91 wRC+ post-trade was 9% below league average.
He's hitting just .152 and slugging .273 so far in the postseason, but there's still time for the affable veteran to shine.
Meanwhile, Arizona's return was anything but productive. Locklear hit three homers and hit just .175, struggling in the major leagues and ultimately ending the season with elbow and shoulder injuries.
Burgos pitched to an 8.10 ERA for the backs, although four of his six ERA came in an explosive game. There's certainly potential for development, but 2025 won't be kind to right-handers, at least at the major league level.
Clanton went down with the injury before he had a chance to pitch for the Double-A Amarillo Turf Poodles.
At first glance, neither team really seems to benefit much from this deal. Seattle had the advantage in the short term, but the margin wasn't huge.
But when Suarez left, Alexander took over full-time third base duties and performed at a surprisingly high level defensively.
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Alexander looked nothing like his inconsistent defensive self who missed Opening Day due to injury. His defense improved significantly at third and second base, and he even made some big plays in the outfield.
While his bat is only worth a .706 OPS, Alexander's defensive versatility and overall positive energy are a major boost for a D-backs club that's in dire need of a spark after the deadline. That opportunity likely wouldn't have arisen if Suarez and his 12 triples were gone.