The Seattle Mariners have bolstered their roster with the acquisition of power hitter Eugenio Suárez, marking just one of several major moves on a hectic Wednesday as the MLB trade deadline looms on Thursday.
Suárez, recognized for his impressive 36 home runs and 87 RBIs this season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, was viewed as a key target ahead of the deadline. He had spent the last two seasons with Seattle, amassing 53 home runs during his tenure. While the trade has been confirmed by an undisclosed source, official announcements are still pending.
In another high-profile trade, the Philadelphia Phillies secured hard-throwing reliever Jhoan Durán from the Minnesota Twins. Durán, who holds a 2.01 ERA along with 16 saves and 53 strikeouts over 49 1/3 innings, cost the Phillies two promising prospects: catcher Eduardo Tait and pitcher Mick Abel.
The New York Mets also made a significant bullpen upgrade by acquiring Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley. This pair of seasoned relievers join forces with standout closer Edwin Díaz to strengthen the Mets’ efforts in their pursuit of the National League East title. Rogers, notable for his submarine pitch delivery, comes from the San Francisco Giants where he maintained an impressive 1.80 ERA across 53 appearances. He brings four walks and 38 strikeouts with him, while Helsley enters the mix having compiled a 3.00 ERA, 21 saves, and 41 strikeouts over 36 innings for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Elsewhere, key players remained in trade discussions, setting the stage for a lively lead-up to the deadline. Notable players such as Pittsburgh’s pitcher Mitch Keller and Cleveland’s outfielder Steven Kwan were still highly sought after as teams looked to optimize their rosters by the Thursday 6 p.m. EDT cutoff.
The New York Yankees added depth to their outfield by bringing in veteran Austin Slater from the White Sox. Slater’s right-handed hitting is expected to be a reliable asset for the Yankees in the remaining two months of the season. In exchange, the White Sox received minor league pitcher Gage Ziehl.
Cincinnati Reds strengthened their third base with the acquisition of Gold Glove winner Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The trade involved Taylor Rogers, a left-handed reliever and brother to the right-handed Tyler Rogers, along with shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura and cash considerations. Hayes, known for his defensive prowess, is under contract for several more years, offering substantial value to the Reds.
Meanwhile, right-handed starter Michael Soroka was traded to the Chicago Cubs, continuing the organization’s strategic moves. Soroka, an All-Star in 2019, has posted a 3-8 record with a 4.87 ERA this year for the Washington Nationals. Washington received infielder Ronny Cruz and outfielder Christian Franklin in return.
Despite the trade activity, Suárez was back on the field for the Diamondbacks where he went 1 for 4 after an injury scare from earlier in the week. Arizona’s recent struggles have shifted them into sellers at the deadline, with players like Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen rumored to be available.
Several other trades took place on a dynamic Wednesday.
The Boston Red Sox acquired left-handed Steven Matz from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for minor league prospect Blaze Jordan. In a three-team collaboration, the Reds picked up pitcher Zach Littell from Tampa Bay Rays, with the Los Angeles Dodgers also involved. The Los Angeles Angels welcomed relievers Andrew Chafin and Luis García from the Nationals, parting with Jake Eder and minor leaguer Sam Brown. The Atlanta Braves secured Tyler Kinley from the Colorado Rockies, while the Mariners moved to enhance their bullpen by bringing in Caleb Ferguson from the Pittsburgh Pirates.