The Mariners could have an obvious leg up for a reunion with Eugenio Suárez

Ken Rosenthal didn’t exactly have to whisper that the Pirates are in on Eugenio Suárez, but they’re running into the same wall they always do. If Geno has a choice between Pittsburgh money and a team he thinks can actually win, Rosenthal’s message was pretty simple — he’s picking the latter. And if that “latter” includes Boston or a familiar stop like Seattle, that’s where his preferences might lean. 

That’s why this whole market might be quietly bending in the Mariners’ direction. Certainly not because Seattle is going to outbid anybody. But because the factors that actually decide these late-winter veteran markets are lining up in a way that gives the Mariners a real, practical advantage.

Mariners could have a comforting path back to Eugenio Suárez as his market tightens

Pittsburgh being interested is easy. Everyone wants a guy coming off a 49-homer season in the middle of their lineup. The problem is what Rosenthal basically laid out: the Pirates often end up needing an overpay to beat “more competitive” situations in the player’s mind. 

And Geno is the exact type of free agent who can wait out the market, because the fit is so obvious for multiple teams. If the Pirates get him, it’ll probably be because they went uncomfortable on dollars or years — which, historically, isn’t exactly their brand.

The Red Sox could be the one team that makes Mariners fans sweat in this situation, because it’s plausible in all the annoying ways: big market, urgency, and a ballpark that could flatter a pull-heavy slugger. 

But that doesn’t mean Boston closes the deal. It just means Seattle can’t treat this like a nostalgia play. If the Mariners want Geno back, the pitch has to be real. Let him know he’s joining a contender and that they have a specific role for him. 

Any “return to Arizona” talk has gotten less relevant once the Diamondbacks traded for Nolan Arenado. So if you’re mapping realistic lanes, Seattle’s lane gets wider.

Ryan Divish’s offseason read is basically: the Mariners are still motivated to add, still hunting upgrades, and still not done shaping the infield picture. He also notes the obvious Suárez question — if he’s chasing multiple years but stays unsigned, the one-year path gets more realistic by the day. 

And that’s where the Mariners can make a play. Because a one-year Suárez deal is the sweet spot for Seattle: maximum lineup impact, minimal long-term risk, and it doesn’t block the entire future if they still believe in their infield pipeline. It’s also the kind of move that can feel bigger than it is — the fanbase remembers Geno as a heartbeat guy, not just a stat line.

If this market turns into a staring contest with Boston weighing alternatives and Pittsburgh refusing to overpay, the Mariners don’t need to “win” the bidding war. They just need to be the best baseball decision left on the board.