Seattle Mariners Facing Bad New Prediction After ALCS Heartbreak

The Seattle Mariners came up short in their pursuit of the World Series this year, falling to the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

To bolster their lineup, the Mariners made significant moves at the trade deadline, bringing in Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez, both of whom are set to become free agents next year. Reports suggest the team is keen on retaining Naylor, but Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly forecasted that Suárez will likely depart.

Before joining the Mariners, Suárez smashed 36 home runs with the Arizona Diamondbacks and earned an All-Star nod. However, his performance dipped after the trade from Arizona, where he was in the final year of a $66 million contract. Post-trade, he managed a .189 batting average with 13 home runs.

According to Kelly, Suárez’s struggles might be tied to T-Mobile Park’s challenging environment for hitters. His earlier stint with the Mariners also showed lackluster results.

As a right-handed power hitter, Suárez’s dip in performance isn’t surprising, especially as he ages and aims for career milestones. T-Mobile Park’s dimensions aren’t ideal for him to replicate another All-Star caliber season.

“So while ‘Geno’ seems to be loved in Seattle, you can bet he’ll opt for greener hitting pastures this offseason,” Kelly wrote. “He’ll always have the ALCS Game 5 grand slam, but he’s 75 homers away from 400, and playing 81 games a year in Seattle won’t help him to get there.”

Given his age, Suárez is unlikely to secure a long-term contract in free agency. In contrast, Naylor excelled in Seattle’s lineup, making him a priority for re-signing.

Suárez, however, may seek a team with a ballpark better suited for right-handed hitters to maximize his output.

Expect to see quite a few teams show interest in Suárez when free agency opens up. Perhaps Seattle could make a run at bringing him back, but it seems much more likely that he’ll be playing elsewhere in 2026.