D-backs get 3 of Mariners' top 20 prospects for Suárez

The Diamondbacks trading continued as they dealt third baseman Eugenio Suárez to the Mariners in exchange for first baseman Tyler Locklear and right-handed pitching prospects Hunter Cranton and Juan Burgos on Thursday. Locklear is Seattle’s ninth-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, while relievers Cranton (16) and Burgos (17) also rank among Seattle’s Top 20.

Suárez was the most coveted bat on the market leading up to the Deadline, thanks to a power display in his age-33 season that has him among baseball’s leaders in home runs (36) and RBIs (87).

TRADE DETAILS
D-backs receive: 1B Tyler Locklear (Mariners’ No. 9 prospect), RHP Hunter Cranton (No. 16), RHP Juan Burgos (No. 17)
Mariners receive: 3B Eugenio Suárez

Throughout the last few weeks, Arizona GM Mike Hazen had said he would only trade Suarez, a free agent at the end of the season, if he were able to get a value better than the Draft pick the Diamondbacks would get if they gave Suarez a qualifying offer and he signed elsewhere.

This is the second trade the Diamondbacks and Mariners have made in the last week. Arizona dealt first baseman Josh Naylor there last Thursday in exchange for a pair of pitching prospects.

Locklear was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday after he had been red hot. The 24-year-old is the reigning Pacific Coast League Player of the Week, after a stretch that included a 9-for-9 run with four homers and nine RBIs, and overall, finishing the week leading all PCL hitters with a 1.745 OPS. Over a broader sample, he leads all Triple-A batters in homers (16) and RBIs (56) while ranking second in OPS (1.140, min.100 PAs) since June 1.

For the season at Tacoma, Locklear is hitting .316/.401/.542 (.943 OPS) with 19 homers and 82 RBIs.

Locklear played 16 games with the Mariners last season before being optioned back to Tacoma for good on July 30, 2024. In that stretch, he hit .156/.224/.311 (.535 OPS) with two homers and one double in 49 plate appearances.

After trading Naylor and with Pavin Smith on the injured list, Locklear fits in nicely for the Diamondbacks.

Cranton, 24, is with the Mariners High-A team in Everett where in eight relief appearances, he allowed one run on four hits and three walks over eight innings. He missed the first few months of the season after being hit in the head by a pitch in the spring and suffering a concussion.

Burgos, 25, appeared in games in relief for the Mariners this year, allowing three runs in 6 2/3 innings. He was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on July 21 and has also pitched at Double-A Arkansas this year.

The Diamondbacks suffered a scare Monday night when Suarez was struck on the right index finger by a Will Vest pitch in the ninth inning. However, X-rays, a CT scan and MRI showed no serious injury and after taking Tuesday off, Suarez was back in the lineup Wednesday and hit several balls hard, including one that went for a double.

Suárez leaves big shoes to fill as he has been a consistent offensive force all season, winning a record-tying four NL Player of the Week honors, and he made history against Atlanta on April 26, when he became the 19th player in history to hit four home runs in a game. Suárez earned his second All-Star selection and has already secured the sixth 30-homer season of his career.