It doesn’t take long for a dream season to wither in remarkably short order. No one knows this better than the Arizona Diamondbacks. Most recently, they went on a three-game winning streak in St. Louis, winning each game decisively. But a devastating sweep by the Houston Astros swiftly wiped that momentum away. That left the club at 50-53, a challenging 5.5 games back of a playoff spot. Their playoff odds currently stand at a meagre 10.4%, meaning it’s time to turn the page. The Diamondbacks are forced to sell now, and their all-star third baseman is the most appealing piece.

We are talking about Eugenio Suárez, who has been one towering figure amid the D-backs’ slump. His bat never stopped producing. Suárez has hit seven home runs over the last ten-game span, homering twice on July 19 and again on July 20 against the Cardinals. He’s got monster season totals of 36 home runs and 86 RBIs. That production comes with an amazing. 918 OPS as well. Although his defense has gone down, with a -6 Outs Above Average, it’s easy to overlook considering his power bat.

This brings us to the D-Backs’ dramatic trade deadline move. On July 24, MLB. com’s Mark Feinsand posted on X, “Eugenio Suárez is the crown jewel of this trade market, but sources say Arizona — which is in sell mode — is asking for “a ton” for the slugger, and if that price isn’t met, the Diamondbacks might hold him and try to re-sign him in the offseason.”

Let’s read between the lines about what Arizona’s decision-makers are saying. They want a massive haul of prospects in return for their slugging third baseman. This now places all the pressure on the teams that want Suarez, including the Yankees. SNY reports Arizona is “all over the Yankees system right now.” But what about the Yankees? Are they willing to trade prospects for immediate impact with Suarez? We shall wait and see!

The Bombers currently possess a wealth of coveted young pitchers, and the D-Backs are aiming for top-100 arms. That includes RHPs Cam Schlittler and Carlos Lagrange. Before his call-up this season, Schlittler had a 2.82 ERA in the minors, with 6 wins, 6 losses, and 99 strikeouts in 76.2 innings across Double-A and Triple-A. Lagrange, on the other hand, had a 2.61 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 34:15 K:BB in 20.2 innings over his last four starts for Double-A Somerset, as of July 11. Other names, like Brock Selvidge and Clayton Beeter, may also be on the D-backs radar.

The D-backs’ perspective is pretty clear. Pitching has been their most significant roadblock throughout the season. Corbin Burnes and Jordan Montgomery, two of their key starters, are lost for the season, leaving their rotation in shambles. Their team ERA stands at 4.58, ranking them 25th in Major League Baseball. So, they are desperate for cost-controllable, high-leverage arms for a run at 2026. And the Yanks? Well, they are driven by pure urgency as well.

The Yankees are desperate for a Solution at third base

The Yanks have a clear-cut hole at third base. It has been a debacle. Oswald Peraza, a top prospect once, has batted there, averaging only .157 with a 43 wRC+. Jorbit Vivas hasn’t been much better with a .167 average. Utility players like Oswaldo Cabrera and Pablo Reyes have also jumped in, but they haven’t managed to provide a reliable, productive answer either. Wasting another historic season from Aaron Judge is not an option for the Yanks. So, they will move, but will they go for Suarez?

Suarez also understands the weight of expectations in New York. He discussed it during the All-Star festivities. “Yankees is Yankees — I feel like it’s a team that wants to win,” he said, before adding, “They had the [World Series] chance from last year, but they are hungry still. If I go over there, like I said, I would do my best over there. Try to help them win the World Series.”

Meanwhile, Jack Curry, an insider with the Yankees’ own YES Network, has rubbished the speculations. “There have been some reports out there that have been erroneous, some connecting the Yankees to players that they don’t have any interest in. You talk about a guy like Suarez, I know the Yankees have NOT had substantive conversations with the Diamondbacks.”

So, what if the Yankees do not opt for Suarez? They can look at several other options. Ryan McMahon of the Rockies offers elite defense. Ke’Bryan Hayes of Pittsburgh is another defensive wizard. But while each alternative presents its own set of costs, control, and offensive production, none offers Suárez’s game-changing power.

The Diamondbacks, anyway, are pretty clear what they want in return for their crown jewel. Now, the next move belongs to New York. The Bombers’ response will determine everything.