Suárez 'very excited' to stay with D-backs after option picked up

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The news Eugenio Suárez was hoping for came earlier this week when the Diamondbacks let him know they were picking up his $15 million option for 2025.

"It was really good news for me," Suárez said. "Me and my family were very excited to hear that I will have at least one more year with the D-backs. I was really hoping they would pick it up."

For Suárez, it wasn't about the money, as he almost certainly could have gotten similar dollars out on the free-agent market following a season in which he hit 30 homers, drove in 101 runs and had 3.1 bWAR.

“I had good relationship with the guys, not just on the field but also in the clubhouse," Suárez said. "Me and my family were very happy there."

Suárez's numbers last year were remarkable given where he found himself three months into the season.

After being acquired from the Mariners in the offseason, Suárez struggled at the plate in the early going with Arizona and at the end of June he was hitting just .196 with a .312 slugging percentage.

While never saying so publicly, the Diamondbacks’ front office considered the possibility of designating Suárez for assignment to try and shake the team up.

Starting July 1, though, Suárez caught fire and, over his final 78 games, he hit 24 homers and drove in 69 runs while slashing .312/.357/.617.

The Diamondbacks similarly got hot, going 35-17 in July and August to get back into the postseason hunt.

"What he did in the second half carried us in the second half," Arizona GM Mike Hazen said. "Where he was in June to [finish with] 30 [homers] and 101 [RBIs] was pretty impressive. He was one of our most consistent hitters, especially from a power perspective, the second half of the season. He was phenomenal and he plays a great third base, he's unbelievable in our clubhouse and we were fortunate that we had that option."

Suarez credited his turnaround at the plate to his work with Arizona hitting coaches as well as the faith that manager Torey Lovullo had in continuing to put his name in the lineup.

"The hitting coaches talked to me a lot," Suárez said. "They worked so hard with me and we made some changes, more mental than physical. Torey gave me confidence when he told he was going to keep playing me. I always believed in myself."

The Diamondbacks finished in a three-way tie with the Mets and Braves for the final two National League Wild Card spots with an 89-73 record, but lost the tiebreakers to both teams and missed the postseason.

Arizona may not be able to retain free agents like first baseman Christian Walker or outfielders Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk, but Suárez is optimistic about 2025.

"I like the team that we have," he said. "I think we're also going to make some moves, maybe get some free agents. I can't wait to see what kind of moves we're going to make."