Mariners trade target Eugenio Suárez has injury scare on HBP

Things may have taken a turn for the Seattle Mariners and other buyers ahead of Thursday’s MLB trade deadline after the top player on the market was potentially injured Monday night.

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Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Eugenio Suárez was hit on the hand by a 96 mph pitch by Tigers reliever Will Vest in the ninth inning of Detroit’s 5-1 win at Comerica Park.

After Suárez was checked on by a trainer, he exited the game.

The good news: Suárez said after the game that his hand was X-rayed, and it was negative for a fracture. That being said, he added that he would undergo more testing Tuesday, per The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen.

This is the second time Suárez has had at least a close call in recent weeks as he was also hit by a pitch in the All-Star Game on July 15.

ESPN labeled Suárez last week as the No. 1 ranked player who is a candidate to be traded before Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline. A host of teams have been reported to have interest in the third baseman who leads MLB with 87 RBIs and is tied for fourth with 36 home runs.

The Mariners are one such team, reportedly seeking a reunion with the player they traded to Arizona after the 2023 season. Coincidentally, the AL Central-leading Tigers are another.

John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports, a sister outlet of Seattle Sports, reported Thursday that 12 teams to that point had talked to the Diamondbacks about Suárez.

Suárez is set to be a free agent after the season, so Arizona can ill afford to lose him to a long-term injury if it is set on dealing him.

For more on the trade market around Suárez and the Mariners’ place in it, click here.

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