The Mariners have given their fans a reason to lean back in again after a strong homestand, taking series from both the Cubs and Phillies. That run pulled Seattle to within 2.5 games of the Astros in the AL West, but the club could still use something more to keep the push moving. Eugenio Suárez is suddenly sitting right there as an option.
According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Suárez and outfielder TJ Friedl were placed on waivers by the Reds. If a team claims Suárez, it would be on the hook for a little less than $3 million for the rest of the season. For Seattle, the case is simple: make the move and bring him back for a third stint.
The fit is obvious. The Mariners need a player who can handle third base regularly and add another right-handed power bat to the lineup.
Suárez has had a rough 2026 overall, hitting just .208 with a .705 OPS, but August has looked much better. He has posted an .862 OPS this month and hit five home runs, including a grand slam on Wednesday afternoon in San Francisco against the Giants:
🚨 GENO GRAND SLAM 🚨 pic.twitter.com/vv0qAN1ChL
- Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 26, 2026
That kind of swing naturally brings back memories in Seattle. Suárez’s grand slam in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Blue Jays last season pushed the Mariners closer to their first World Series berth, even if they eventually fell in Game 7. It remains, arguably, the biggest hit in franchise history.
Beyond the bat, Suárez brings something else the Mariners could use right now. He has been well liked in Seattle from top to bottom, with players, the front office, ownership, and the fanbase all clearly fond of him. His personality has a way of lifting the room, and the article frames that as exactly the kind of spark this team needs after what has been a difficult and disappointing season.
There is also the baseball side of it. Even when Suárez wasn’t at his sharpest during his previous time in Seattle, he still forced opposing teams to account for him.
That threat matters. It changes how a lineup is pitched, and it gives the Mariners another dangerous right-handed presence.
The clock is ticking, though. Seattle would need to act within the 48-hour waiver window, which expires sometime on Thursday afternoon.
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