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By Nelson Espinal
Contributing Sports Reporter
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Seattle Mariners All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suarez is hitting free agency after a 49-home run season, though he may not end up returning to the Northwest.
Suarez is 34 years old and has defensive limitations at the hot corner, both factors that will likely limit him to a shorter-term deal.
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He hit .228/.298/.526 last season with 49 home runs and 118 RBIs, along with a 3.8 fWAR. His season was a tale of two halves, though, and his second half of the season has raised alarms.
Suarez started the season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, hitting 36 home runs and 87 RBIs in the desert. However, when he was traded to the Mariners, he hit .189 along with a .682 OPS.
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Still, his slugging ability has been good for a while — this is his second 49-homer season — which should give a couple of teams confidence that Suarez can inject some power and quality hitting into a lineup.
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One of those teams could be the Los Angeles Angels, who will be looking to improve their offense and need coverage in the infield.
According to Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report, they are the most logical landing spot, and his deal could be along the lines of a two-year, $43 million contract.
"The Angels—a team that needs a third baseman and power bat—make quite a bit of sense," Kelly wrote his article.
"Suárez hit 189 home runs during parts of seven seasons with the Reds, and a return to Cincinnati would make sense offensively for a team that needs to add a big veteran bat.
"Former employers such as the Diamondbacks and Tigers could also consider reunions if they don't feel comfortable moving forward with unproven options like Colt Keith, Jace Jung and Jordan Lawler."
Considering the unique dynamic between the city of Seattle and Suarez, the Mariners would like to bring him back despite his downturn in hitting since joining the team. However, a deal that the Angels or Tigers can offer him may be too rich, given his lackluster results at T-Mobile Park.
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