Mariners should covet a Eugenio Suárez reunion even after his fall from grace

There are plenty of players in Mariners history who have been beloved, whether it be by fans, teammates, ownership, the front office or media. However, when it comes to someone who is liked by all, we would contend the list shrinks dramatically. Eugenio Suárez easily fits the profile as one of those players whose popularity transcends any group of people, and as far as we're concerned, the M's would be wise to reach out to him about a third tour of duty in Seattle.

If this sounds like Déjà vu by us, that's because it is. Back towards the end of August, Suárez was placed on waivers by the Reds and at the time we implored the Mariners to make a claim for him. The M's were struggling to make good on the preseason predictions by many as AL favorites, and with him owed around $3 million for the remainder of the 2026 campaign, it seemed like a more than worthwhile risk to take.

In the end however, the Mariners decided not to pursue a potential second reunion with the two-time All-Star and things played out as you would expect, and then some. It was bad enough that the M's finished 76-86 to complete arguably (but really) the most disappointing season in franchise history, but this was compounded by Suárez finishing the year on a hot streak. Over the final two months of the season he produced a .886 OPS and 141 wRC+, to show there was still some life left in the old dog.

There remains more positives that negatives when it comes to Eugenio Suárez

Look, we totally get it when the detractors point towards Suárez's overall numbers not jumping off the page this season. Or that he didn't do too much with the Mariners last year following his trade from the Diamondbacks at the end of July. However, this is still a player who provides a threat just by being in the lineup and is still capable of having his moments, with the number one example being his grand slam in Game 5 of the 2025 ALCS versus the Blue Jays. (A both glorious and painful memory, given how the series played out.)

Additionally, as we've stated before, this goes far beyond just what Suárez does on the field. As noted up top, he's extremely popular in Seattle and his presence alone boosts everyone both inside and out of the clubhouse. He's an infectious personality who rubs off on all those around him, which is an invaluable intangible to have on your team. Of course there's plenty more that goes into team success, but you can't discount that the only two times the Mariners have been to the playoffs since 2001, he has been on the roster both times.

For some though, we appreciate it does still come down to productivity, along with cost. However, this can be turned into a positive when it comes to today's version of Suárez. If he's only going to cost in the seven-figure range -- he does have a $16 million mutual option for 2027, but we don't see the Reds agreeing to it -- then utilizing him as a platoon third base/DH doesn't sound so bad. He might have only hit .212 this season, but he can still barrel the ball as evidenced by 26 home runs when he did make contact over 434 at-bats.

Overall, the Mariners have plenty of needs this offseason, but this should include bringing back a fan favorite. And, as per Charlie Wright of MLB Trade Rumors, one look at the list of available right-handed DH options in free agency only reinforces our belief in this opinion. Suárez loves everyone connected with the M's organization and the sentiment is reciprocated. If anything, another reunion makes almost too much sense. (If that's even possible.)

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