The Seattle Mariners have pulled off two of the biggest trades of the 2025 deadline so far, landing Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Naylor would’ve been a logical fit for the Boston Red Sox, who are still seeking a full-time first baseman to replace the current Abraham Toro–Romy Gonzalez platoon.
Following the late-night Suárez deal, Ken Rosenthal and Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reported that the Red Sox had also been pursuing Suárez, although their interest had remained under the radar with no significant leaks linking them to the player beforehand.
Had Boston acquired Suárez, they planned to shift him to first base. That would’ve made him the third power-hitting third baseman on the roster, alongside Alex Bregman and Rafael Devers.
If the Red Sox were simply after a slugging infielder with shaky defensive skills to handle first base, they arguably could’ve just stuck with Devers. While Suárez’s 36 home runs — third-most in the National League — clearly outshine Devers’ recent production, it’s questionable whether giving up top prospects for yet another defensively limited third baseman learning a new position was the right move.
Red Sox would’ve been better off keeping Rafael Devers than trading for Eugenio Suárez and turning him into a first baseman
There are plenty of legitimate first basemen available at this year’s trade deadline — names like Josh Naylor, Yandy Díaz, and Ryan O’Hearn stand out. Yet the Red Sox continue to shuffle players into unfamiliar positions, a puzzling strategy given their defensive struggles all season.
Starting Eugenio Suárez at third base is already questionable; trying to convert him to a new position at 34 makes even less sense. He’s recorded -9 outs above average and ranks in the bottom 5% for range among third basemen.
The Red Sox seem to underestimate how tough it is to learn first base — just ask Ron Washington or Rafael Devers, who’s already committed an error in just five games there with the Giants.
If Boston is serious about contending in the second half and making the playoffs, it needs experienced players playing where they’re most comfortable. With the AL race so competitive, there’s no room for growing pains — and spending big on a top trade target only to move him to a less-suited role is a recipe for disappointment.
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