Nightmare scenario closer to reality for Blue Jays as AL rival loads up

It's a reunion nobody in the American League playoff picture wanted to see. The Seattle Mariners are bringing back superstar slugger Eugenio Suárez in a midnight deal on Thursday, the final day of the MLB trade deadline.
In exchange, the Arizona Diamondbacks are getting first baseman Tyler Locklear (Mariners' No. 9 prospect by MLB Pipeline) and right-handed pitchers Hunter Cranton (No. 16) and Juan Burgos (No. 17).

Suárez played with the Mariners from 2022-2023, hitting 53 home runs in those two seasons before being traded to the Diamondbacks following the '23 season. He brings another huge power bat to the Mariners, who sat fifth in the league in long balls already this season with 152 going into Thursdays games.

The Mariners now boast a lineup that features two of the top five home run hitters in the league this season with Suárez swatted 36 in Arizona, and Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh leads all of baseball with 41 bombs.

Last week, we mentioned three trades that could ruin the second half for the Toronto Blue Jays and this was one of them.
Suárez was being mentioned as one of the Mariners' top pursuits at the deadline as they were looking for ways to solidify their spot in the AL playoff picture. As of Thursday morning (July 31) they are tied with the Texas Rangers for the final Wild Card spot, sitting a game-and-a-half back of second place Boston and two-and-a-half games back of New York.

What makes this trade nightmare fuel for Blue Jays fans is that Seattle could be a first round opponent for the Toronto. They met in the 2022 postseason and things didn't go well for the Blue Jays to say the least, with the Mariners sweeping Toronto in the Wild Card series.

If these teams were to matchup again in a short series, the damage that Raleigh and Suárez could do to a Blue Jays pitching staff that has been susceptible to the long ball is going to keep the Jays coaching staff awake at night. The Jays have given up 150 home runs this season, third most in the entire league and they have made just one move so far to address any of their pitching short comings, grabbing Seranthony Dominguez in a trade with Baltimore earlier this week.

Adding insult to injury is the fact that the Mariners already dipped their toes into the Diamondbacks well this trade deadline. They acquired Mississauga, Ontario native Josh Naylor on July 25 in a move that has already paid dividends for the Mariners.

While the Blue Jays were said to be shopping more in the pitching department, having two premier bats go to a potential playoff opponent does sting a little bit. However, the Diamondbacks still have some players the Blue Jays have been linked to, but the clock is ticking for Toronto.