The New York Yankees are expected to look for some infield help at the upcoming MLB trade deadline, but one top target could suddenly be out of reach.
The struggling Yankees slipped out of first place in the AL East and dropped the first two games of their Subway Series against the New York Mets. With the trade deadline approaching, many insiders believe the Yankees will add some firepower to their lineup as they look to return to the World Series.
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez has been pegged as a top potential target, but the 33-year-old former All-Star may have taken himself out of contention.
Eugenio Suarez Wants to Stay Put
Suarez has been deep in trade rumors as the Diamondbacks have struggled to stay above .500 in a competitive NL West, but said this week that he has no desire to leave Arizona.
âI donât want to leave Arizona,â Suarez said, via The Athletic’s Ken 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.”
Suarez will not have the final say over his fate, but made it clear to the franchise and Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen that he wants to stay. Rosenthal added that Hazen is more included to become a buyer at the trade deadline.
âIf I could choose one place to go, I would want to stay here,” said Suarez, who is reaching the end of his $66 million contract.
Yankees Working on Another Trade
While the idea of landing Suarez is becoming more distant for the Yankees, general manager Brian Cashman is reportedly working the phones on another target. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the team is interested in Colorado Rockies infielder Ryan McMahon, another hot target at the trade deadline.
Heyman reported that the Yankees “checked in” on McMahon, but it’s not clear if they are engaged in any tangible trade talks.
Aaliyan Mohammed of The Sporting News suggested that McMahon could be the perfect addition for the Yankees, allowing the Yankees to move Jazz Chisholm and DJ LeMahieu to more advantageous positions in the infield.
“McMahon has a plus-3 outs above average this season,” Mohammed wrote. “He is in the 87th percentile for outs above average. Him at third base would be an upgrade over Chisholm, and Chisholm would be an upgrade at second base over LeMahieu. Adding a player like McMahon could be the difference between the Yankees making a deep run in October or going home early.”
Chisholm said he isn’t too keen on the idea of changing positions, but said he would be willing to do it for the betterment of the team.
âEverybody knows Iâm a second baseman,â Chisholm told The Athleticâs Chris Kirschner. âOf course, I want to play second base, but whatever it takes to help the team win. If thatâs what the team chooses, thatâs what I gotta do.â
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