“Expected to add stability at third base”
The Arizona Diamondbacks, who finished second in this year's World Series, welcomed third baseman Eugenio Suarez, a slugger who hit a total of 246 home runs.
Local media, including ESPN, announced on the 23rd (Korean time) that Arizona conducted a 2-for-1 trade with the Seattle Mariners, giving away catcher Sevi Zavala and right-handed pitcher Carlos Vargas to bring in Suarez.
After making his big league debut in 2014, Suarez played for the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds, hitting a batting average of 0.248 and hitting 246 home runs and 730 home runs in 1,313 games.
He has slugging power, and although his batting average remained at 0.232 this year, he hit 22 balls over the fence and scored 96 RBIs. Since 2015, he has hit double-digit home runs every year, and has hit 20 or more home runs for the last three years in a row. His personal most home runs in a season is 49 home runs in 2019.
ESPN pointed out, “Arizona needed a third baseman as former All-Star Evan Longoria became a free agent.” Longoria appeared in 74 games this season (41 at third base), but appeared in 16 of the team's 17 games in the postseason. In 14 of those games, he was responsible for the hot corner.
Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said of the addition of Suarez, “He will add stability at third base,” and “We have been watching him for a long time.”
Suarez's annual salary in 2024 is $11 million, and he has a club option for $15 million in 2025. If the club does not sign Suarez in 2025, it will have to pay $2 million as a buyout.
Zavala, who headed to Seattle, played for the Chicago White Sox and Arizona this year, hitting 0.171 with 7 home runs and 18 RBIs in 73 games. Vargas, who debuted in the major leagues this year, appeared in 5 games and allowed 3 runs in 4⅔ innings. 슬롯