The hot corner was a solid position for the D-backs this season. All told, it came in at 2.0 bWAR above average, with the Giants and Matt Chapman the only NL team to be more productive there. This was mostly
due to Eugenio Suarez continuing his second-half surge from last season. On July 21st, he hit his 36th home-run of the season, boosting his OPS to .933. Over little more than the previous year, since July 7th 2024, Suarez had hit sixty home-runs in 170 games, with 153 RBI – one of the greatest spells in franchise history, and more than enough to overcome any defensive issues.
However, we all know Suarez’s streaky tendencies, and that proved to be the high water mark of his year. Ten days later, he was traded back to the Seattle Mariners. The cool-down was already in full effect by then, Eugenio going 3-for-25 with 12 strikeouts after hitting his final home-run as a Diamondback. He then batted .189 in Seattle, with an OPS+ of just 94, compared to 145 here. He has been worse still in the post-season for Seattle, with a line at time of writing of .138/.194/.276 for a .469 OPS over seven playoff games. If there were a poster to demonstrate the concept of “selling high on a player”, it would have Geno’s face on it.
It does leave the D-backs needing to fill the position, though since Suarez was always going to be a free-agent at the end of the year anyway, the need for a replacement should not come as a shock to GM Mike Hazen. After the departure of Suarez, the position was mostly occupied by Blaze Alexander, with Jordan Lawlar’s audition proving such a defensive liability, with four errors in only twenty-four chances at third-base, he ended up confined to DH duties. Manager Torey Lovullo said, “We’ve gotten down to the studs on his foundation and we gotta get things built back up.” Lawlar is off playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic, presumably part of that rebuild.
Internal candidates
Blaze Alexander – MLB .230/.323/.383 = .706 OPS
On the post-Suarez evidence, as noted above, Alexander would appear to be first in line. He didn’t disgrace himself defensively, making some fine plays at the hot corner. The question is more whether a 95 OPS+, combined with a strikeout rate of 32.3%, would be enough for Alexander to carry the position offensively. It is generally regarded as being a power spot – though this year, shortstops across the major leagues collectively had a higher OPS (.723 vs. .705), putting Alexander right at the average for third-base. He isn’t going to hit 36 home-runs before the trade deadline, but might be okay. Though Blaze could be more useful as a super-utility type.
Jordan Lawlar – MLB .182/.257/.288 = .545 OPS, AAA .313/.403/.564 = .966 OPS
The gap between Triple-A and the majors has rarely been as starkly illustrated as by the above splits. Our first-round pick in the 2021 draft, taken sixth overall, fared little better at the major than in his first stint, late in 2023. Once he eventually got his first hit – after starting the year 0-for-31 – he did improve at the plate, with a .918 OPS across his final 17 games. But, as noted above, his defense was too bad to let him take the field. I would expect that a thousand groundballs a day will be in his future from now to, and probably through, spring training.
Below Lawlar, not many immediate alternative candidates stand out in the D-backs farm system. The two best-ranked infielders who might help next year are Tommy Troy and LuJames Groover. Troy has no experience of third since college. He is much more of a 2B guy, though I note he did start almost as much in center for Reno this season. Groover was the primary third baseman for Double-A Amarillo this year: he is actually three months older than Lawlar, which is perhaps evidence for why we shouldn’t be quick to rush to judgment on Jordan. LuJames and I actually share the same birthday: if he reaches the majors, he’ll be the first D-back to do so!
External candidates
It is possible that the team might look to free-agency to fill the spot. Though from what Hazen has said, it appears that pitching is considerably more likely to be the focus. Despite Suarez’s Seattle slump, he is probably the second-best player on the market, after the news that Alex Bregman will opt out of the remaining time on his contract with Boston. Bregman will be seeking a long-term deal, and will certainly get paid – if not by the Red Sox, than perhaps Detroit. The Mariners may look to re-sign Geno, rolling the dice on one of those hot streaks, in addition to all the vibes – especially if they end up winning the World Series, and look to keep the band together.
After those two, and presuming the Dodgers exercise a reasonably-priced option on Max Muncy, the falloff in quality is a steep one among the free agents. If the team decided Lawlar is still not quite polished enough for prime-time, they might look at a one-year contract as a bridge until Jordan is ready. Then it might be somebody like Paul DeJong or Yoán Moncada. However, I wouldn’t have thought their production is going to offer much improvement over Alexander at the hot-corner. While they might only cost a couple of million, I’d rather see that sum given to a relief pitcher of better than replacement level talent.
I suspect Lawlar is going to be given every opportunity to win the job. As mentioned, he is still young, having only turned 23 in July, and that has to be taken into account. The defense will probably remain a work in progress, but with application and good coaching – neither a guarantee, admittedly – he should be able to get things to the point where he’s not a liability, and the bat we saw in September should certainly play. If Lawlar does flame out, then Blaze in the short-term, and the team may need to find a long-term solution at the position.
