The Arizona Diamondbacks are one of the teams rumored to be sellers at this year’s Major League Baseball trade deadline.
With less than a month to go before the deadline, Arizona’s front office will carefully evaluate the club’s chances of contending in a competitive National League. If the Diamondbacks perform poorly over the next few weeks, several players may attract the interest of buyers.
Their postseason odds shrank when offseason signee, starting pitcher Corbin Burnes, was lost for the season due to Tommy John Surgery. Eugenio Suarez, Arizona’s third baseman, may be a hot commodity for teams looking for an upgrade at the hot corner.
Suarez’s Statement on Trade Rumors
As noted, Suarez, who is in the final season of a seven-year contract, $66 million contract extension he signed with the Cincinnati Reds in March 2018, is one of the hottest names on the trade rumor mill.
In 84 games, he’s already close to matching his 30-homer season in 2024, hitting 26 home runs before the All-Star break. His 27 percent strikeout rate is five percentage points above the league average, but Suarez’s 138 OPS+ would be the best on a handful of teams.
Suarez made his stance about the recent trade rumors known in a conversation with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
âI donât want to leave Arizona,â Suarez told Rosenthal. âObviously, we know how the business of baseball is. But right now, I feel comfortable. I feel every time we win a game, weâve got a chance to make the playoffs. Every time we lose, maybe something like that pops in my mind. Which is not good for me. I donât want to get traded.â
Suarez has been traded three times in his 12-year career. In 2014, from the Detroit Tigers to the Reds. In 2022, from the Reds to the Seattle Mariners, and from the Mariners to the Diamondbacks in 2023.
“Suárez and his wife, Génesis, have two daughters, Nicolle, 7, and Melanie, 4,” wrote Rosenthal. “He said his family ‘loves it’ in Arizona, adding, ‘If I could choose one place to go, I would want to stay here.’”
“But as he prepares for his 34th birthday on July 18, he said there have been no contract talks with the Diamondbacks, even though his 26 homers are tied with the Philadelphia Philliesâ Kyle Schwarber for fourth in the majors.”
Potential Trade Suitors
Nearly every team with a need at third base should be in on Suarez. The New York Yankees are the most obvious potential suitor for the Venezuela native, as they might prefer to move Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to his natural position at second base.
In Suarez, the Yankees would add another righty bat that hits for power between Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in their lineup.
The Chicago Cubs could also give the Arizona Diamondbacks a call asking about Suarez’s availability, with rookie Matt Shaw at third base, hitting just .222 with a .618 OPS in his first 55 MLB games.
San Diego Padres infielder Manny Machado was chosen over Suarez to start at third base for the NL at this year’s All-Star game, but Suarez is as close to a sure thing to be selected as a reserve.
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