Mariners, Red Sox, Pirates, Tigers, Reds in battle for 49-HR free agent slugger

Billy Heyen

Mariners, Red Sox, Pirates, Tigers, Reds in battle for 49-HR free agent slugger image

Eugenio Suarez is likely the top free agent bat remaining without a contract.

That has a whole host of teams lined up for him, including the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds.

That quintet was named Thursday in an article by MLB.com's Mark Feinsand as the bunch that wants Suarez.

"Suárez is the biggest bat left on the market, and the Pirates, Tigers and Reds would all make sense as they look to add some pop to their respective lineups," Feinsand writes. "A return to Seattle would also be a natural fit for Suárez, though the team that could now make a push for him is the Red Sox, who lost Alex Bregman and missed out on Bo Bichette, leaving a hole in the infield. Suárez could play third base, shifting Marcelo Mayer back to second base."

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That case for the Red Sox makes sense.

Seattle could certainly use Suarez back, too. They don't have a perfect replacement option at third base, although top prospect Colt Emerson has been floated as an idea to move over from shortstop to handle the hot corner.

Suarez has also spent time in his career with the Tigers and Reds. Detroit was in on Bregman but didn't get him, and Cincinnati's lineup lacks home run pop that Suarez would definitely provide.

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The Pirates made a bit of noise earlier this offseason, and they could make one more statement if they beat these teams out for Suarez.

Suarez hit 49 home runs in 2025 -- 36 with Arizona, then 13 after being traded to the Mariners.

He's a streaky slugger, but when he gets going, he can be dangerous, including in a four-homer game this past season with the Diamondbacks.

Clearly, he's got plenty of suitors, so one team is going to end up happy while a handful of others end up sad.

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Staff Writer