Mariners get frustrating updates on ideal trading partner's plans for deadline

For weeks, the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks have looked like natural trade partners. Arizona, with several intriguing veterans and a deepening infield logjam, seemed like a perfect match for a Mariners team in need of offensive reinforcements. But as the calendar flips to July, those plans could be slipping away.

The Diamondbacks went 15-11 in June, steadily climbing their way back into reach of playoff contention. And with every win, another trade chip seemingly vanishes from the board. While the front office continues to tell inquiring teams they’re not ready to sell — this is according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today — that stance is rooted in more than just lip service. It’s tied directly to the club's July schedule.

Diamondbacks’ wild card chase could keep Mariners’ targets off the table

Arizona’s upcoming slate includes 20 games against winning teams, starting with a pivotal four-game series against the San Francisco Giants and continuing with a crucial showdown against another NL West rival in the San Diego Padres. July will be a make-or-break month for the D-backs. Not only is it the final month before the trade deadline, it’s their best chance to leapfrog division rivals and get back into the Wild Card race.

Currently hovering around the .500 mark and nearly 10.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, Arizona isn’t chasing a division title. But they are just four games back of the final Wild Card spot. While that margin isn’t insurmountable, it also doesn’t leave much room for error. If the D-backs stay in the hunt, it’s hard to imagine them parting with any key contributors — particularly someone like Josh Naylor, a player long speculated as a Mariners target.

However, there may still be one name on the table regardless of Arizona’s intentions: Eugenio Suárez. The former Mariner has experienced a quiet resurgence in the desert, slashing .254/.324/.564 with 26 home runs and 69 RBIs. Even if Arizona doesn’t commit to a full-on sell-off, trading Suárez could be a strategic move to clear the way for top prospect Jordan Lawlar — the No. 4 overall talent in MLB — to get everyday reps, aligning with the organization’s long-term development plans.

For Seattle, a reunion with Suárez could inject much-needed life into an offense that has lacked consistency. Pairing his power with Cal Raleigh’s recent tear would give the Mariners a formidable middle of the order. Suárez isn’t the rangiest defender, but he still brings a steady glove and a traditional third base profile — something rookie Ben Williamson, still getting his feet under him, hasn’t quite solidified yet in the batters box.

Williamson is currently slashing .256/.293/.313 with just one home run and 13 RBIs. That lone homer didn’t even come at T-Mobile Park, which has looked every bit like an obstacle for the rookie. A player like Suárez, even if he regresses slightly away from the hitter-friendly confines of Chase Field, would still provide a significant upgrade in power and presence.

Yes, there’s risk. The same challenges that led to Suárez’s exit from Seattle remain: T-Mobile isn’t a hitter's heaven. But if “similar production” means a .240 hitter who can still go deep 25-plus times a year? That’s a gamble the Mariners should be willing to make — especially as they chase an October berth in a wide-open American League.

The frustrating part? It all hinges on what Arizona does in the next few weeks. The Mariners may still get their perfect trade partner — but only if the D-backs fail first.