The Detroit Tigers’ improbable run to the postseason in 2024 was no fluke.
The Tigers hold a commanding, 11-game lead in the American League Central and have as good a shot as anybody of coming out of this relatively weak AL.
However, to break their 41-year title drought, acquiring another elite bat should be atop the front office’s priority list.
Jeff Passan of ESPN recently listed Detroit as a “best fit” for his No. 1 trade deadline candidate, Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez.
“Suárez is in a contract year and playing like one of the best players in baseball. Only Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge have more home runs than his 35. Despite turning 34 years old before the trade deadline, Suárez is sitting near career highs in isolated power and wRC+ (which measures overall offensive performance). His fielding metrics have declined in recent years, but he’s still an acceptable defender at third base.”
Passan also noted that the Diamondbacks have high-profile prospect Jordan Lawlar in Triple-A, and he is a realistic Suárez heir at third.
Arizona, should it sell, will have a league-wide bidding war for Suárez. Fortunately, the Tigers have an abundance of tantalizing prospects and could dangle a variety of packages.
As for 2025, Suárez would slot into a middle-of-the-order spot and move utility man Zach McKinstry over to shortstop. McKinstry (.279 batting average, .822 OPS, 128 OPS+) has impressed at the plate and deserves far more playing time than someone like Trey Sweeney (.211 batting average, .585 OPS, 64 OPS+).
Detroit could feel that an all-in move is not appropriate for its budding powder keg, but opportunities such as the ones in front of them do not come around often, nor do players like Suárez.
