Ex-Mariners prospect making Eugenio Suárez trade look like a lose-lose

When the Seattle Mariners swung their blockbuster deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks to bring Eugenio Suárez back to the Pacific Northwest, they did it knowing they’d be parting with a prospect they valued. Tyler Locklear, a 24-year-old first baseman was the clear prize in the package headed to Arizona.

At the time, it looked like a classic “win-win” scenario. Suárez, a fan-favorite with a flair for big moments and a strong clubhouse, would return to Seattle for a playoff push. Locklear, meanwhile, would get his long-awaited shot at everyday big league at-bats in the desert.

Early returns on Eugenio Suárez trade are bad news for Mariners and Diamondbacks

Locklear came in hot. He was tearing up Triple-A Tacoma before the trade and didn’t miss a beat in Arizona, smashing his first home run with the Diamondbacks on August 4. But since then, the bat has gone ice cold. He’s just 2-for-18 with nine strikeouts over that stretch and sits at 5-for-32 overall, fanning 14 times.

And as for Suárez? Let’s just say the “vibes” haven’t been good enough to mask the results. The veteran is hitting .088/.135/.176 since the deal, going 5-for-38 with a lone home run and 15 strikeouts.

The regression for Suárez was predictable, and not just because of small-sample struggles. Moving from Chase Field (ranked 3rd in MLB in Park Factor at 104) to the cavernous T-Mobile Park (dead last at 91) was always going to be a challenge. Still, no one expected his production to completely crater the way it has since returning to Seattle.

For the Mariners, Suárez’s second act hasn’t lived up to the sentimental hype. For the Diamondbacks, Locklear’s early audition is trending toward a missed opportunity. And for both sides, the supposed centerpiece swap of the trade deadline could wind up as one of those rare deals where nobody comes out feeling like a winner.

For Locklear, the challenge now is as much mental as mechanical. This is the best chance he’s likely to get, and Arizona needs him to show more than just raw power potential. The Mariners may miss Suárez’s energy, but right now? The scoreboard on this trade reads zeroes for everyone.