The Tigers will have multiple competitors for the services of Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez, the All-Star slugger who leads MLB with 87 RBIs and has knocked 36 home runs as we near the end of July. But for a Detroit team that seems to have righted itself after a disastrous three-week span–three straight wins, by a combined score of 27-7–the motivation to bring in Suarez’s bat is palpable.
There are concerns about Suarez, of course. He is hardly Brooks Robinson at third base, with 12 errors this season, and he did not play in the Diamondbacks’ loss to the Tigers on Tuesday after Will Vest hit him with a pitch in the hand on Monday.
The bat is what matters, though, and the fact that Suarez can slug at a position of need for many teams means he is being chased, heavily, by not only the Tigers, but by the Cubs, Mariners and Phillies, among others.
Tigers’ Gleyber Torres Was Suarez’s Teammate
One guy who knows Suarez well is advocating for the Tigers to make a deal for him. That’s star second baseman Gleyber Torres, who is a fellow Venezuelan and was teammates with Torres in the World Baseball Classic.
“If he comes here at some point, it’s going to be awesome,” said Torres, via the Detroit Free-Press. “He treats people the right way. He’s easy to talk to. He always wants to help the players. It would be a really, really good addition for us.”
The Tigers’ third basemen are hitting .221 on the year and their .643 OPS is sixth-worst in baseball. Suarez has hit 36 homers and leads baseball with 87 RBIs, posting an impressive .898 OPS this season. As a slugger, he has tremendous value, even at age 34 and in the final year of his contract.
Tigers Would Get ‘Better Person Than Player’
Torres said that adding Suarez, who was originally a Tigers prospect and made his MLB debut with Detroit back in 2014 before he was traded to the Reds for (ahem) pitcher Alfredo Simon, would have a big impact in the clubhouse.
“I think he’s a better person than player,” said Torres, an eight-year MLB veteran. “I have a really good relationship with him. He is a humble guy, an awesome person. I’ve known him for many years. Our relationship is really good.”
Detroit wants it to happen today, with the Diamondbacks playing the Tigers in an afternoon game.
According to the Freep, “The Tigers are interested in trading for Arizona Diamondback third baseman Eugenio Suarez, and soon. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Tigers would like to have Suarez on the roster before the Diamondbacks leave town.”
Eugenio Suarez Hand Injury Not Serious
As for the hand injury, the Diamondbacks (and perhaps Tigers) got good news when tests came back negative. It was the 15th time this season he has been hit by a pitch.
“It’s painful, obviously, but the good news is the X-ray was negative,” Suárez said. “I thought something broke, but thank God it wasn’t. We’ll see tomorrow what [tests] they’re going to do, but right now I will do my best to try and get back soon.”
Tigers Star Urges Team to Trade for Slugger Eugenio Suarez