Tigers GM reveals why Detroit passed on players like Eugenio Suarez at the trade deadline

Matt Sullivan

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Tigers GM reveals why Detroit passed on players like Eugenio Suarez at the trade deadline image

The Detroit Tigers lost to the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS after an instant classic 15-inning showdown that ended in heartbreak for the Tigers. In the aftermath of the loss, Detroit has a lot to evaluate.

But, during a press conference after the season was over for Detroit, Tigers' general manager Scott Harris had a lot to say about the team's plans going forward, as well as an evaluation of how the season went.

When asked about the trade deadline, Harris revealed why the Tigers didn't opt to land a big-name player like Eugenio Suarez despite being linked to them at the deadline. Tigers Turkmoil on Twitter/X shared Harris's answer, which was 'illuminating' following the lackluster trade deadline.

Tigers' Scott Harris reveals why big-ticket trade targets weren't acquired by Detroit

"Do I regret not pulling the trigger on the deals that we had access to at the deadline? I don't, and I'll tell you why." Harris said. "I think I'm even more confident now than I was then that the deals that we had access to that we passed on would've frustrated our fans more than not doing the deals."

After the deadline, Harris echoed a similar sentiment of not wanting to regret making a trade and losing valuable players and prospects in the process. They held onto their top five prospects, and while the majority of their deadline moves didn't pan out, Kyle Finnegan was great.

But, they needed third base, and as Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press reported at the time, they were linked to Eugenio Suarez in the waning days before the deadline. Instead, the Tigers passed, and now, Harris is revealing why.

"I would tell you that the players that were most closely connected to us via the media would have cost either a player on the postseason roster, plus additional pieces, or one of our top prospects, plus additional pieces," Harris revealed.

Prices weren't cheap at the trade deadline, and that was a huge reason why the Tigers didn't make any of the big splashes that other teams made. While they could've made those moves, the Tigers didn't want to give up so much value in the process, and for good reason, as Harris goes on to explain.

"In some cases," Harris said "with those deals that were most closely connected to us, those players that were most closley connected to us, those players, some of them didn't perform at all down the stretch, would've been a free agent in two months, and would've cost a player on our postseason roster that actually performed better than the player we acquired, and was controllable in the future."

More: Tigers owner Chris Ilitch comments on a Tarik Skubal extension after Wild Card win

While Harris didn't reveal any names, Suarez, who the Seattle Mariners have on their roster, was a player who fits this description. The 34-year-old is a free agent at the end of this season, and after joining the Mariners, he hit .189 with a .682 OPS. So far in the playoffs, Suarez is hitting .138 with a .469 OPS.

It's harder to identify what Major League player Harris didn't want to part with, but a few could fit the description. Jahmai Jones and Wencel Perez, two players who were on the Major League roster that the Tigers could've moved at the deadline. Troy Melton was another player who could've been traded, but the Tigers elected to keep him.

There's no telling if Suarez would've hit better for Detroit had he been traded there. But the fact that the Tigers, according to Harris, would've had to give up either a top prospect or one of these Major Leaguers, plus other pieces, for Suarez decides not to swing such a deal looks even better.

Jones looked like a capable platoon bat this season, while Perez flashed some intriguing potential, and Melton was a bright spot for Detroit outside of his four-run Wild Card performance against the Cleveland Guardians.

Being able to have players under team control for a while longer, plus the other assets they would've had to give up for Suarez, especially knowing how much the new Mariners third baseman has struggled, makes Harris's decision look to be the correct one.

While the deadline in 2025 was a bit of a letdown, the moves that the Tigers didn't make are some of the best decisions of the entire deadline around the Major Leagues, as Harris and the Tigers seemingly avoided disaster.

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Matt Sullivan

Matt Sullivan is a freelance writer for The Sporting News, predominantly covering MLB. Matt is a native of Pennsylvania and has worked with Athlon Sports, Last Word on Sports, and other outlets.