When a player is absent from a starting lineup with the trade deadline looming, the assumption by fans is that the player is about to be on the move.
That latter part may be true for the Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suarez, but that's not why he's out of the lineup on Tuesday night in Detroit.
Suarez is absent due to an injury to the index finger he was hit by pitch on Monday night in the ninth inning.
The Diamondbacks did X-rays for Suarez and they came back negative, writes beat reporter Johnny Kane on X.
The problem, Kane adds, is that "there is quite a bit of swelling."
With the Diamondbacks needing to maximize the return they get for Suarez, they have to make sure he stays healthy long enough to be included in a trade at all. For that matter, they need him to show up to his new team healthy, too.
MORE: Corbin Carroll is unmatched in MLB history
Suarez has actually had two concerning hit by pitches of late. He was also hit in the hand area while batting in the All-Star Game, but he was able to stay in the contest there and appeared to be OK.
As the top slugger available, Suarez is a valued commodity. A number of teams appear still interested, including the Mariners, Tigers, Reds and Cubs.
The Diamondbacks have no incentive to hold onto Suarez. His contract expires at the end of the season. He's a natural trade away candidate for a team that's out of contention.
Suarez has helped his trade value all season by continuing to hit no matter the circumstance. In all, Suarez has 36 home runs.
He's actually rather likely to end up in a reunion with his trade. He has played for Detroit, Seattle and Cincinnati in his career, and all three of those are possible destinations for Suarez.
All eyes are on Suarez's hand, and specifically finger. They're so important in hitting, and they're easy to take for granted.
If Suarez can stay healthy this last day or two, he'll soon be putting on another uniform, and Arizona will be admiring the haul they get back.
MORE MLB NEWS:
- Dodgers sign Missouri football's QB to contract
- Blue Jays make Toronto history not achieved since 1992 World Series team
- Emmanuel Clase goes from trade target to concerning Guardians story
- Orioles' catcher used a Happy Gilmore swing to hit a home run
- There's a sad truth to Aaron Judge's injury for Yankees
- Edwin Diaz is MLB's best pitcher since learning his legs were different lengths