3 alternative third base trade targets in case Mariners whiff on Eugenio Suárez

The Seattle Mariners are in dire need of a third baseman. With Ben Williamson struggling to pull his weight offensively, it feels like a trade at the deadline is inevitable. Eugenio Suárez is the most enticing option, with his 36 home runs and his familiarity with the Pacific Northwest.

But what happens if the club misses out on the sweepstakes for Suárez? Here are three alternative options who could fill third base for the Mariners after the deadline.

3 third base targets for Mariners who aren't Eugenio Suárez

1. Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals

Arenado is not your traditional trade deadline candidate. He plays for a team that is above .500 and 3.5 games out of the playoffs. He's also still got two years left on his contract, and he is having a bad season. With just 1.3 bWAR, he is on pace to have the worst full season in his career. His .679 OPS is the worst of his career by a lot.

Then again, Randy Arozarena was in a similar boat last year. A player with a proven track record having a down season, with two years left on his contract, playing for an average team still in contention but not ready to go all-in. It sounds very familiar to Arozarena, and we see how that trade has turned out for the Mariners.

The Cardinals openly tried to trade Arenado to the Houston Astros last offseason. The roadblock here for the Mariners probably comes down to the price and age. Arozarena was not as old or expensive as Arenado. The 34-year-old third baseman is owed $42 million over the course of 2026 and 2027. The Rockies are on the hook for $5 million, leaving the other $37 to St. Louis. Seattle only makes this trade if the Cardinals agree to take a significant portion of that money.

2. Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies

If the Mariners do not want Arenado, perhaps they would be interested in the man who replaced him in Colorado. Ryan McMahon has gradually declined since his career-best 4.0 bWAR season in 2021, but he could still be valuable to the Mariners. So far in 2025, McMahon has been worth 1.5 bWAR and has a 92 OPS+. It's not amazing, but it's better than Williamson.

Again, the deterrent here is McMahon's contract. The 30-year-old is owed $32 million over the next two seasons and would be in Seattle through 2027.

3. Yoán Moncada, Los Angeles Angels

Moncada is one of the great "what if" players of this generation. He's averaged just 78 games per season due to a variety of injuries that have plagued him throughout his career. Despite that, he has a career OPS+ of 107 and has a 162-average of 3.0 bWAR per season. If not for injuries, Moncada would likely be a multi-year All-Star.

This season, the third baseman has only played a handful of games with the Angels, but he's been good. In 39 games, he has an .813 OPS and 122 OPS+. With eight home runs and six doubles, he is hitting for good power.