Tigers urged to reunite with 26-homer slugger at trade deadline

As the Detroit Tigers continue to expand their lead in the American League Central and begin to think about positioning themselves for an October run, it is clear that they could use a little more right-handed thump in their order. 

Of course, this is nitpicking for a team that ranks in the top five in both runs scored and ERA, but besides Spencer Torkelson, the Tigers don’t have a single other right-handed hitter with more than 10 home runs on the season. And while Torkelson is undoubtedly in the midst of his career-best season, his .208/.311/.406 line since April 20 shows he shouldn’t be counted on to be a middle-of-the-order bat for a championship contender. This leaves Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene as the two biggest threats in the Tigers’ order, both of whom have massive platoon splits that leaves the entire lineup susceptible to left-handed pitching. 

With left-handed aces like Framber Valdez, Max Fried, and possibly even Shane McClanahan looming in the American League playoffs, the Tigers will be well served to add another right-handed bat to their order, and ESPN’s David Schoenfield believes they can find a match with an old friend: Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Eugenio Suárez. 

“The Tigers will likely make multiple moves — no doubt, adding a bullpen arm at the minimum — and while the lineup has shown surprising depth, adding Suárez to hit between lefties Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene feels like the perfect fit while allowing Zach McKinstry to return to his utility role,” Schoenfield wrote. 

At first glance, Suárez might not appear to be the solution to the Tigers’ problem vs left-handers, as he is hitting just .179 against them this season compared to .275 against right-handers. That .179, however, includes six home runs in just 67 at-bats, and given Suárez has an OPS over 40 points higher against southpaws in his career, his splits this season can likely be chalked up as an anomaly. 

Regardless of which side Suárez fares better against, there is no denying his reputation as one of the most consistent and potent power hitters in the game. Since his 2019 breakout with the Cincinnati Reds, Suárez has only failed to top the 30-homer plateau once in a full season. And while he hasn’t reached that mark yet in 2025, his 26 home runs rank second only to Shohei Ohtani in the National League, a product of his career-high 50.5% hard-hit percentage. 

While any team could use a bat like Suárez, it’s hard to imagine a more perfect fit than the Tigers, with whom Suárez began his career back in 2014. As Schoenfield points out, his bat would not only provide an ideal complement to Greene and Carpenter but also allow McKinstry to transition back into his natural utility role. If the Tigers can convince the Diamondbacks, who sit three games back of the NL’s third wild card, to part with the pending free agent, Suárez could be the piece that solidifies them as American League favorites.

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