Eugenio Suarez remains without a team, and a new report suggests that a return to the Seattle Mariners is far from certain, largely because of Colt Emerson. The highly regarded prospect is expected to need playing time next season at Suarez’s position.
The report came from Adam Jude during an appearance on Foul Territory. Jude noted that Suarez would be an ideal fit for the Mariners but emphasized that the organization is reluctant to block its top prospects. “He [Suárez] checks all the boxes, an amazing clubhouse guy,” Jude said. “They [the Mariners] have a lot of young, talented infielders coming, knocking at the door.”
“They don’t want to block those guys,” Jude added, specifically pointing to Emerson as a prime candidate to take over at third base, a factor that could be one of the main obstacles to Suarez returning to Seattle next season.
With or without Suarez, the Mariners’ offseason hasn’t gone well
According to part of Adam Jude’s report, the Mariners have not had a strong offseason. The situation appears to go beyond prospects and the Suarez case, as the beat writer notes that while the team is still looking for players on the market, the roster currently feels incomplete.
“There’s some bubbling frustration brewing with Mariners fans,” Jude said, adding that rumors surrounding Brendan Donovan continue to circulate but that nothing serious has materialized so far. He did note, however, that the Josh Naylor contract was an important step for the organization.
“Need to know how this is possibly a B offseason. They’ve subtracted more than they’ve added. They’re short two bats and at this moment they’re worse than they were when the year ended. It’s a D+ for me,” Mariners fan Ben Sansaver wrote on X (@sansaver23).