When the Padres' offense starts leaning too far into contact and consistency, it loses some of its edge - that jolt of unpredictability that keeps opposing pitchers honest. What they’re missing is that one guy who can flip a game with one swing, even if he’s striking out in bunches the rest of the week. That’s where Eugenio Suárez enters the picture - and why he makes a whole lot of sense for San Diego right now.
Let’s be clear: the Padres aren’t short on talent. They’ve got stars, they’ve got depth, and they can beat you in a variety of ways.
But what they don’t currently have is that fear factor - the kind of right-handed power that changes how pitchers approach the middle innings. Suárez brings that.
He’s not just a power threat - he’s a game-plan disruptor.
The numbers back it up. Suárez launched 49 home runs last season - 36 before the trade deadline, 13 after - and slugged .526.
That’s not just “a little pop in the bat.” That’s the kind of production that shifts momentum, that makes a 3-2 lead feel like it’s hanging by a thread.
It’s the kind of power that makes a pitching coach start sweating in the sixth inning.
And while it might not seem like a clean fit at first glance - Manny Machado isn’t giving up third base anytime soon - Suárez doesn’t need to be penciled in at the hot corner. Slide him into a DH/1B role, and suddenly the Padres have the kind of matchup flexibility that keeps opposing managers up at night.
Pair him with Gavin Sheets, who brings left-handed power, and you’ve got a righty-lefty combo that can do real damage. Instead of stringing together three singles to score a run, you’re just one swing away from flipping the scoreboard.
Now, let’s talk about the tradeoff - and it’s a significant one. Suárez struck out 196 times last season, with a 29.8% strikeout rate that landed him in the bottom five percent of MLB hitters. That’s not just a guy who whiffs now and then - that’s a high-variance hitter who can go ice cold against elite postseason pitching.
But here’s the thing: when Suárez connects, the results are loud. His 14.3% barrel rate and 47.6% hard-hit rate in 2025 weren’t flukes - they’re signs of a hitter who consistently punishes mistakes. He’s not just swinging for the fences - he’s reaching them.
And there’s another factor working in the Padres’ favor: no qualifying offer penalty. Because Suárez was traded midseason, he’s not tied to draft-pick compensation. That means San Diego can make a move without dipping back into a farm system that’s already been thinned out by recent trades.
Financially, Spotrac has pegged his market value around two years and $30 million - roughly $15 million annually - though that number could shift depending on how aggressive the market gets. The Mariners are still lurking, and the Pirates have reportedly checked in as well, so there’s competition. But if the Padres can land him on a short-term deal, this could be one of those “high-risk, high-reward” moves that pays off in a big way.
Sure, there will be nights where Suárez goes 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. That’s baked into the profile.
But what the Padres need right now isn’t another solid, low-ceiling bat. They need someone who can swing a game - and maybe even a series - with one violent cut.
That’s what Suárez brings. He’s not perfect. But he might be exactly what this Padres lineup is missing.