It worked wonderfully.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Twice, in fact.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So well, actually, that the Mariners are considering the addition of popular, power-hitting Eugenio Suarez to a lineup that could fit him yet again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a THIRD time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Suarez family tour of MLB (Seattle division) began in 2021, when the Mariners took Geno off Cincinnati\u2019s books along with a legit left-handed swinging Jesse Winker.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In return, the Reds landed Justin Dunn, Brandon Willilamson and Jake Fraley.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, the Mariners seemed willing to accept the Suarez strikeouts (plenty) and reportedly poor defense at shortstop and third base, while acquiring Winker\u2019s professional approach as the No. 3 hitter in Seattle\u2019s revamped lineup.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It worked out terrifically.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Except, backwards.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Winker arrived in a perpetual funk and only seemed to arrive at the ballpark to pick up his paycheck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suarez, meanwhile, showed up with his hair dyed half-back and half-white (his daughter\u2019s request) and the non-stop, cheery cry of \u201cGood vibes only!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Geno promptly became one of the club\u2019s most popular players.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He did lead the AL in strikeouts, but he was surprisingly nimble at third base, and manager Scott Servais said: \u201cWith a game on the line, he\u2019s the guy I want up there hitting.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
DESPITE the good vibes (and making the playoffs for the first time in 2022), the Mariners shocked their fan base by trading Geno to Arizona prior to the \u201924 season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was a classic salary dump.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not even that much, either: $11 million, which is tip change in the economics of MLB these days.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The contract ran through 2025, so ownership got out of some cash \u2014 but wound up with a serious hole in the infield. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The Mariners players were not happy with the dismissal of Suarez, either as a major offensive contributor the plate or as a clubhouse leader.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seattle ran through a group of third basemen over those next two seasons, and no one really established himself as a lineup regular.\u00a0<\/p>\n
You could see Act II coming from miles away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Mariners were making a full-blown dash for the postseason last fall, and clearly had some spots they wanted to fill.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What\u2019s more, they were willing to spend some money.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They locked up Josh Naylor to a long-term deal, and started prowling around for another bat or two.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Choice No. 1, incumbent Jorge Polanco, got paid big-time by the Mets.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No. 2 appears to be D-Backs second baseman Ketel Marte, but that would require a contract heading into his late 30s \u2014 and a combo of hefty cash and at least one sharp starter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yikes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
YES, YOU can find assorted hitters, with different skill sets and different price tags.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For instance, the Cardinals are shopping 29-year-old second baseman Brendan Donovan, who would fit with the Mariners in lots of ways.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Remember, Seattle has room for a designated hitter (especially for platoon use) and has just traded with Boston for Rob Refsnyder \u2014 who has some power and legitimate barrel rate against left-handers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Is Refsnyder more valuable as a platoon player than Suarez, who can also handle infield positions until the Seattle prospects prove they can do damage against big-league pitching?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Mariners are waiting on Colt Emerson, who is considered a sure-fire bet throughout all of MLB.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Emerson conceivably could win an everyday job, perhaps faster than anyone expects.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If so, he would answer a lot of questions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suarez, meanwhile, might well be strong as ever \u2014 for instance, as strong as the hero who clubbed a grand slam homer to clinch the ALDS last October.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There are a lot of puzzle pieces involved here, players of various abilities, ages and cost.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The thing about Suarez, though, is that he\u2019s (more or less) a sure thing. <\/p>\n
\u201cGood vibes only!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n