Yankees eyeing third baseman as insider highlights key trade
Yankees eyeing third baseman as insider highlights key trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Add Bradford Doolittle of ESPN to the chorus. This week he suggesting what we've been urging for months. It's time the New York Yankees make a play for Arizona third baseman Eugenio Suarez.
Advertisement
Now, after the news that the Diamondbacks have lost Corbin Burnes for the rest of the season, they will need to be sellers at the deadline. We've already joined the chorus about the Yankees looking to Arizona for a starting pitcher in Zac Gallen, but Suarez has long been on our wish list.
A right-handed power hitter who can play third base, Suarez is only under contract through this year. The Diamondbacks already have his replacement in the system, it should not take a lot to get him.
Doolittle has his own reasoning.
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio SuárezMatt Kartozian-Imagn Images
He rightly points out the Yankees' immediate needs. Pitching remains crucial, something that was obvious after the weekend loss to the Red Sox. However, the glaring need at third base, a consistent source of fan base frustration, demands immediate attention.
Advertisement
While the Yankees have moved Jazz Chisholm, Jr, to third base for now, they are scouring the market for the best available second or third base option. Acquiring Suarez would allow Chisholm to move back to second, where he is clearly more comfortable.
Arizona's unfortunate loss of Burnes has decisively tipped their season towards selling mode, making Suarez a prime trade candidate. With power potential and a reliable glove, Suarez could fill the Yankees' third-base void while injecting significant pop into the lineup.
Suarez's slugging profile fits Yankee Stadium's dimensions perfectly, projecting him as an instant upgrade over internal options. Additionally, his veteran presence could stabilize a lineup seeking consistent run production from positions other than Aaron Judge and eventually Giancarlo Stanton.
Doolittle's endorsement underscores our repeated stance: Suarez makes sense, and now the circumstances are ideal. With Arizona shifting towards a rebuild, the Yankees must seize this moment. It's not just an opportunity—it's imperative for a legitimate World Series run.
Advertisement
The Yankees' championship odds might look promising today, but securing Suarez could be the decisive move that transforms a hopeful October into a triumphant one.
Related: Yankees Prospects Struggle as Giancarlo Stanton Arrives for Rehab
Related: Insider Reveals Yankees' $90 Million Veteran Clock Is Ticking Toward Deadline Looming
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
42 minutes ago
- New York Times
Phillies MLB trade deadline primer: 3 early storylines to watch
There is an absolute in the years since Dave Dombrowski assumed control of the Phillies, and that is an active trade deadline. He has engineered 12 deadline trades in four years. He acquired two players — Brandon Marsh and Edmundo Sosa — at the 2022 deadline who are still on his roster. He's obtained others — Ian Kennedy, Rodolfo Castro and Austin Hays — who left less of a mark on the Phillies. Advertisement Dombrowski figures to be active again come July; these Phillies are in deep with a $305 million payroll. They still have flaws. The Phillies entered this season attempting to strike a difficult balance; they did not sign a free agent to a multi-year contract over the offseason, and resisted trading their best prospects. This, then, was a bridge year. The Phillies are trying to win, but without sacrificing everything. It makes this a fascinating deadline for Dombrowski, who has to issue a referendum on this roster's chances for a World Series title. Dombrowski has never been afraid to flip middle-tier prospects in July trades. He has protected his best farmhands at previous deadlines. The Phillies went deep into trade talks last summer with the Chicago White Sox regarding Garrett Crochet, a deal that would have required surrendering a massive prospect package. Those talks fizzled. There might not be a player of Crochet's caliber available at this year's July 31 deadline. Even if there is, Dombrowski has made Andrew Painter untouchable. Other prospects might have since ascended to that status. Here's a primer on what to monitor in the weeks ahead. It's no secret the Phillies will look to fortify their bullpen. It is a familiar need. The Phillies searched for bullpen help at the 2022 and 2024 trade deadlines; they went with 'proven veteran' types like David Robertson and Carlos Estévez. Under Dombrowski, the Phillies have targeted velocity when building a bullpen. They had the hardest-throwing bullpen in baseball in 2023 and the third-hardest in 2024. They've dipped to sixth in 2025 — that includes José Alvarado's high-powered fastballs from earlier this season. They could be hunting in July for more velocity. Dombrowski will go into this trade deadline knowing he'll have Alvarado, suspended by MLB until Aug. 18, for the season's final six weeks. The lefty is ineligible for the postseason if the Phillies qualify. They do not know how effective Alvarado will be upon his return, but that adds a layer to Dombrowski's decision-making. Advertisement So does this: The Phillies might have a surplus of starting pitching, depending on Aaron Nola's health and Andrew Painter's ascension, which could bump some starters to the bullpen in August or September. This matters too: This year's postseason schedule calls for an extra off day during the National League Division Series, which means a team would need only three starters in a five-game series. So a bullpen acquisition at the trade deadline has to be more than a marginal one; the Phillies might not be looking for someone to help them reach October, rather someone who can be trusted to pitch in high-leverage postseason situations. That is a high bar. Whether that pitcher becomes available or the Phillies decide to meet the price remains to be seen. Here lies, yet again, another festering problem. The Phillies entertained an outfield addition at the 2023 trade deadline, but opted to stick with Johan Rojas in center and Brandon Marsh in left. They plucked Hays from the Baltimore Orioles last July, only to see that transaction flop when Hays suffered myriad injuries. They tried another marginal addition over the offseason by signing Max Kepler to a one-year, $10 million deal. The outfield free-agent market has not borne much fruit: Anthony Santander, Tyler O'Neill, Michael Conforto and Jurickson Profar (suspended) have all struggled for various reasons. The only free-agent outfielder from the middle class who has produced, Harrison Bader, is having his best season in years. The Phillies made a bet on Kepler as a bounce-back candidate. They have hidden him against lefties through a platoon, yet Kepler is a below-average hitter overall in 2025. He's played an average left field. If the Phillies want an outfield reinforcement in July, they might have to think creatively again. Many contenders are seeking a right-handed bat. Left field, at least in the past, would be a logical place to stick one. Advertisement The Phillies entered the week tied for 25th in home runs by right-handed hitters. They've averaged 102 homers from righties over the past four seasons. They are on pace for 64 in 2025. The last time they did not have a righty who bashed 20 homers in a season (excluding 2020) was 2015. Slugging numbers are down across the sport, rendering any available power hitter a hot commodity. Some teams could simply double down on pitching and defense. The Phillies have one of the worst defensive outfields in baseball. If they cannot obtain power, maybe they rearrange things to optimize for defense. This qualifies as a good problem for the Phillies to solve, considering how much Mick Abel's stock has risen following a forgettable 2024 season. He's pitched with conviction in the majors. He has emerged as a more confident strike-thrower; it is a transformation that could entice other clubs. Abel, for now, is crucial rotation depth because Nola could be sidelined through the All-Star break. At that point, if Nola is ready, Abel would probably return to the minors. Sometime in July, the Phillies expect Andrew Painter to factor into their rotation plans. That would bump Abel even further down the depth chart. If the Phillies retain Abel, he'd still be on the outside of an initial 2026 rotation projection. The Phillies have Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez and Nola under contract, with Jesús Luzardo and Painter under club control. All of this must factor into the calculus the Phillies use in assessing Abel's place in the organization. Should the Phillies believe Abel's transformation merits a longer look, they could toy with the idea of him as a reliever for the stretch run, then revisit things in the offseason. The Phillies will receive calls on Aroon Escobar, a stocky infielder who hits the ball hard. The 20-year-old Venezuelan generated interest among clubs at last year's trade deadline despite being sidelined by persistent shin splints. Eduardo Tait, a big-bodied catcher who does not turn 19 until August, is a potential trade chip. Rival evaluators have questioned whether Tait sticks behind the plate, but that is not a universal opinion. The job requirements for a big-league catcher could be drastically different by the time Tait reaches the majors. (Top photo of Dave Dombrowski: Eric Hartline / Imagn Images)
New York Times
42 minutes ago
- New York Times
Yankees MLB trade deadline primer: 3 early storylines to watch
After finalizing a 2025 roster that no longer included superstar Juan Soto, New York Yankees officials expressed confidence that this year's team was not only deeper and more balanced but also better than the 2024 squad, which made the franchise's first World Series appearance since 2009. At the time, it seemed like empty words. How could a team that lost one of the best players in the sport, an American League MVP finalist, be better? But those officials, so far, look smart. Advertisement The Yankees have the second-best record in the AL (41-25), trailing only the Detroit Tigers, and the best run differential in the majors. Their offense has the highest Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) and the most home runs in the sport. Their main pivot after losing Soto to the New York Mets in free agency, Max Fried, has a 1.84 ERA and is an early contender for the AL Cy Young Award. The Yankees have dropped a few frustrating series, but at this stage, it's hard not to think of them as World Series contenders. That doesn't mean the Yankees' roster is perfect. They need at least one more bullpen arm and could use upgrades in the infield and starting rotation ahead of the trade deadline on July 31. Trade discussions among most clubs won't truly heat up until after the All-Star break in mid-July. Here are three storylines to monitor over the next seven weeks: Before the season began, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said dropping below the fourth and highest luxury tax threshold was not a concern to him. But the Yankees were actively trying to trade starter Marcus Stroman to shed as much of his $18.5 million salary as they could. Doing so would have put the team below the $301 million threshold. Perhaps the Yankees could have used Stroman's salary to upgrade the roster elsewhere, but they chose not to add another right-handed hitter despite general manager Brian Cashman telling reporters at the end of spring training he would feel better about the team if he were to get another bat. Steinbrenner has been adamant that he doesn't believe a payroll over $300 million has any correlation to winning a title. Only three teams since 2009 have ranked in the top three in payroll and won a championship: the 2018 Boston Red Sox, 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers and 2024 Dodgers. According to Cot's Contracts, the Yankees have MLB's third-highest payroll behind the Dodgers and New York Mets. Advertisement 'Does having a huge payroll really increase my chances that much of winning the championship?' Steinbrenner said in February. 'I'm not sure there's a strong correlation there. Having said that, we're the New York Yankees, we know what our fans expect. We're always going to be one of the highest in payroll. That's not going to change. And it certainly didn't change this year.' The Yankees currently have a $308 million payroll, according to Cot's. Every dollar spent over $301 million is taxed at a 110 percent rate. Unless the Yankees are able to shed salary, adding key contributors at the deadline will be costly for Steinbrenner. To use Steinbrenner's words, though, these are the New York Yankees we're talking about. Steinbrenner won't need to file for bankruptcy if they add to their payroll. This team is very good. Adding one or two key contributors could be the difference between a title and another empty year. He should open the checkbook if Cashman and the front office believe a move will help. Can DJ LeMahieu keep this up? LeMahieu had a career-worst year in 2024, posting a 52 wRC+ after starting his season late because of a foot injury. If you're reading this, you had more fWAR than LeMahieu did in 2024. Had the Yankees designated LeMahieu for assignment last season, no one would have questioned the front office. It's early, but there are positive signs that LeMahieu's start isn't flukey. He has the highest barrel rate and average exit velocity of his career. If he keeps it up, there's no reason to believe he can't be an above-average hitter for the rest of the season. Injuries are the chief concern at this stage of LeMahieu's career. He hasn't been able to stay healthy, and the Yankees probably should not count on him to remain at this level considering his recent poor track record. But if they believe this is real, it makes the need for another infielder less of a priority. The Yankees could choose to upgrade Oswald Peraza's roster spot, but they would need to acquire someone who could play shortstop because he's the current backup. Advertisement The Yankees' bullpen has not pitched well since May 1. Over that span, their bullpen ERA is the sixth-worst in MLB. Ian Hamilton, Fernando Cruz and Jonathan Loáisiga have underperformed during this stretch and the team has missed Luke Weaver, who was placed on the injured list in early June. Weaver (hamstring strain) isn't expected back for a few more weeks, so someone in this bullpen needs to rise. So far, no one has. Devin Williams has pitched better than he did at the start of the season, but he still doesn't look as sharp as he did with the Milwaukee Brewers. Mark Leiter Jr. has had a couple of tough outings since the start of May. Hamilton has a minor-league option remaining, so the Yankees could call up a pitcher from Triple A, like Clayton Beeter, or they could insert JT Brubaker into the bullpen when he completes his rehab assignment in the coming days. But, in all likelihood, the Yankees will look to the trade market to add a reliever. Since 2020, the Yankees have traded for at least one bullpen arm at the deadline. Even in the disastrous 2023 season, the Yankees' lone deadline move was trading for reliever Keynan Middleton. The Yankees also have to decide if they view adding a starter as a need. In all likelihood, Fried and Carlos Rodón would be their Games 1 and 2 starters in October, but who would be their No. 3? Can they count on Luis Gil to return from a lat injury that has sidelined him all season? Is Clarke Schmidt consistent enough to get the ball? Do they trust Will Warren's upside? These are questions the front office likely will ask over the next seven weeks. Starting pitching prices at the deadline in the expanded playoff era have been high, but the Yankees should seriously consider adding to their rotation. (Top photo of Brian Cashman: Brad Penner / Imagn Images)
New York Times
42 minutes ago
- New York Times
Eight things to know about the 2025 NCAA Men's College World Series field
The 2025 College World Series begins at 2 p.m. ET on Friday at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. The field consists of two teams from the SEC (Arkansas and LSU) and one each from the ACC (Louisville), Big 12 (Arizona), Big Ten (UCLA), Missouri Valley (Murray State) and Sun Belt (Coastal Carolina) as well as one independent (Oregon State). Advertisement Here are eight things to know about the 2025 CWS. Arkansas has had no trouble recruiting elite high school talent to Fayetteville over the years, but the 2025 Razorbacks were built by the transfer portal. Of the Hogs' eight position players with at least 30 starts, catcher Ryder Helfrick is the only one who signed with the Razorbacks out of high school. The imports: Wehiwa Aloy, the SEC Player of the Year, is the only one on that list who has been with the program for more than one season. Starting pitchers Zach Root (ECU) and Landon Beidelschies (Ohio State) also arrived via the portal last offseason. The bullpen, however, is almost exclusively homegrown, with Dylan Carter (Crowder College) and Aiden Jimenez (Oregon State) the only transfers. The previous two College World Series featured a total of 15 future first-round MLB Draft picks, including five of the top nine picks in 2023. The 2025 field does not appear to be as star-studded, with only five players in the first round in Keith Law's most recent mock draft. Three players were mentioned among 'others to watch' — Arkansas pitchers Zach Root and Gage Wood and Louisville pitcher Patrick Forbes. Some fun facts on the eight head coaches in the 2025 field: • Four of the eight are coaching at their alma mater — Arkansas' Dave Horn, Arizona's Chip Hale, Coastal Carolina's Kevin Schnall and Oregon State's Mitch Canham. • Three coaches played in the College World Series. Hale was on the Arizona team that won the national title in 1986. Louisville's Dan McDonnell was on the 1990 The Citadel team that reached the CWS as a No. 5 seed in the Atlantic Regional when the field was still 48 teams (with eight six-team Regionals). Canham was a catcher on the Oregon State teams that won back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007. Advertisement • Two coaches have taken other schools to the CWS — Van Horn (Nebraska, 2001 and 2002) and LSU's Jay Johnson (Arizona, 2016 and 2021). • Hale can become the third person to manage in the major leagues and lead a team to the College World Series title. The list of two right now includes Jack Barry and Bobby Winkles. Barry, who led Holy Cross to the 1952 national championship, spent one season as the Boston Red Sox manager (90-62 in 1917). Winkles won three national titles at Arizona State in the 1960s and later managed the Angels and A's in the 1970s. Hale went 148-176 in two seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2015-16). Eight players on the LSU roster were also on the 2023 team that won the national championship, but only three saw action in Omaha. Pitcher Gavin Guidry made four appearances out of the bullpen, giving up seven hits and three earned runs in five innings. He was on the mound for the final two innings of the 18-4 win over Florida in Game 3. Outfielder Josh Pearson struggled, going a combined 2-for-20, but he hit a home run in the clincher. Jared Jones, a freshman at the time, went 1-for-2 in two appearances as a pinch hitter. Coastal Carolina has two players on its roster who were on teams that played in the College World Series — pitchers Cullen McKay (Virginia in 2023 and 2024) and Chance Mako (NC State in 2024). Neither appeared in a game in Omaha. Arkansas outfielder Logan Maxwell, a transfer from TCU, went 3-for-7 in three games with the Horned Frogs in the 2023 CWS. Getting elite high school players to campus is always a challenge, even in the NIL era. The eight CWS teams combined to sign 17 of the top 100 players in Perfect Game's Class of 2024 recruiting rankings. Nine of the 17 enrolled in college, headlined by two top-10 prospects at LSU — pitcher William Schmidt (No. 5) and outfielder Derek Curiel (No. 10). Advertisement LSU's signing class featured 11 top-100 players (six enrolled), while Oregon State and Arkansas each signed two and Arizona and UCLA each signed one. Here's a look at the 2024 top-100 recruits who made it to campus for the teams in the 2025 CWS. No. 5 William Schmidt, RHP, LSU: Schmidt has pitched in 17 games, mostly in nonconference action, and has a 7-0 record with a 4.73 ERA. He has 41 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings. No. 10 Derek Curiel, OF, LSU: Curiel has been one of the best freshmen in the nation. He's hitting .347 with seven home runs and 52 RBIs. No. 40 Mason Russell, LHP, Arizona: White has thrown only 7 1/3 innings in seven appearances. He has a 13.50 ERA and a 2.45 WHIP. No. 43 Dax Whitney, RHP, Oregon State: Whitney has been a key part of the Beavers' weekend rotation. The Idaho native is 6-3 with a 3.66 ERA and has struck out 111 batters in 71 1/3 innings. No. 56 Carson Wiggins, RHP, Arkansas: Wiggins has made 14 appearances, all in relief, and is 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA and three saves. He has given up only seven hits and has 20 strikeouts in 14 innings. No. 73 Cooper Williams, LHP, LSU: Williams has been a key left-handed option out of the bullpen. He has thrown 19 2/3 innings over 20 appearances and has an 0-1 record with a 1.83 ERA. No. 74 Casan Evans, RHP, LSU: Evans started three SEC games but has mostly been used out of the bullpen. He is 4-1 with a 1.90 ERA and six saves. He has 65 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings. No. 79 David Hogg II, INF, LSU: Hogg played in only three games and recently entered the transfer portal. No. 92 Ryan Costello, 1B, LSU: Costello, like Hogg, is in the transfer portal after playing sparingly in 2025. Last year's CWS field featured some of the game's most prodigious power hitters. Led by Florida's Jac Caglianone and Tennessee's Christian Moore, seven of the nation's top 16 home run leaders played in Omaha in 2024. Advertisement It's a different story this time around. The 2025 field features only two of the top 20 sluggers: Jonathan Hogart of Murray State (tied for fourth with 24) and Roch Cholowsky of UCLA (tied for sixth with 23). Three teams in the field rank among the top 20 nationally in home runs — Arkansas (fourth with 124), Oregon State (tied for 16th with 103) and LSU (19th with 101). Next up is Louisville (43rd with 83). Coastal Carolina is the only team not in the top 100. The Chants are 108th with 66. Murray State is the fourth No. 4 Regional seed to crash the College World Series since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1999. Here's a look at how the Cinderellas got to Omaha, and how they fared. Fresno State, 2008: Aaron Judge's alma mater (no, he was not on the '08 Bulldogs) won the Long Beach Regional and then beat Arizona State in three games in the Tempe Super Regional to advance to Omaha. The Bulldogs beat No. 6 seed Rice 17-5 and No. 2 seed North Carolina 6-2 to stay in the winners' bracket. They lost to North Carolina 4-3 but then beat the Tar Heels 6-1 to move on to the championship series. Georgia won the opener 7-6, but Fresno State bounced back with wins of 19-10 and 6-1 to claim the title. Stony Brook, 2012: The America East champs had to come out of the losers' bracket to win the Coral Gables Regional and advance to face mighty LSU in the Baton Rouge Super Regional. LSU won the first game, but Stony Brook won the next two, 3-1 and 7-2, to stun the college baseball world. The Seawolves' stay in Omaha did not last long; they lost to No. 2 seed UCLA 9-1 in the opener and then bowed out with a 12-2 loss to No. 3 Florida State. Oral Roberts, 2023: Oral Roberts, which cruised through the Summit League with a 23-1 record, went 3-0 at the Stillwater Regional and then beat Oregon in three games at the Eugene Super Regional (after losing the opener 9-8 after leading 8-0!). The Golden Eagles went 1-2 in Omaha, beating TCU in the opener and then losing to Florida and TCU. The eight teams in Omaha have a combined 74 appearances in the College World Series and 16 national championships. LSU leads the way with 20 CWS appearances, followed by Arizona (19), Arkansas (12), Oregon State (eight), Louisville (six), UCLA (six), Coastal Carolina (two) and Murray State (one). The titles belong to LSU (seven), Arizona (four), Oregon State (three), Coastal Carolina (one) and UCLA (one). (Photo of Murray State: Jaylynn Nash / Imagn Images)
