The D-backs have officially chosen a lane and are heading down a seller’s trajectory. First baseman Josh Naylor is already on his way to the Mariners for a pair of pitching prospects, but it’s third baseman Eugenio Suárez and his thunderous power output that have captivated fans of contenders for much of deadline season. The 33-year-old, earning $15MM in the final year of his contract, is hitting .252/.325/.593 with 36 home runs on the season — including 21 round-trippers dating back to June 1 (a span of 179 plate appearances.
Even after the Mariners landed Naylor, they remain in the mix for Suárez, per multiple reports from the Seattle beat (link via Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 770 AM). Naylor cost the Mariners two well-regarded pitching prospects — lefty Brandyn Garcia and righty Ashton Izzi — but left the upper tiers of a Seattle farm system that’s arguably the best in baseball untouched. Earlier in the week, Suárez was reported to be the Mariners’ top deadline target. Adding Naylor, it seems, will not put an end to that existing pursuit.
They’ll face steep competition, however, It’s known that in addition to the Mariners, each of the Reds, Cubs and Yankees have some level of interest in the Arizona third baseman. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, as John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reported earlier today that as many as a dozen teams have at least looked into the possibility of adding Suárez to their lineup.
That includes at least one division rival. Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports that in the wake of a serious injury to Isaac Paredes, the Astros have joined the bidding for Suárez. Houston has some hurdles in their path to landing the coveted D-backs slugger, however. Owner Jim Crane has been loath to cross the luxury tax threshold for what would be a second straight season. Adding Suárez would put them into tax territory unless the ’Stros shed payroll elsewhere or convince the Snakes to pay down his salary. Houston also does not have as strong a farm system as many of the teams against which they’d be bidding.
Whether it’s Suárez or another bat, the Astros’ priorities seem to have shifted. General manager Dana Brown suggested earlier in the summer that pitching would be his primary focus. Now, with Paredes shelved indefinitely and Yordan Alvarez’s recovery from a hand fracture dragging out, Brown tells Chandler Rome of The Athletic that his primary focus is on adding to its lineup. The Astros have several starters on the mend, including Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, Spencer Arrighetti, J.P. France and Lance McCullers Jr. It seems they’ll hope for some internal reinforcements to support co-aces Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez and instead aim to use their limited financial and prospect resources to augment the offense.
With that number of teams at least on the periphery of the market, it can be presumed that most contenders have at least put out some feelers. One team that notably is not in the running, per the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, is the Mets — at least for the moment. Despite a rotating cast of characters on the infield this year — Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña have all seen time around the infield but struggled to varying extents — the Mets’ main focus has been and remains upgrading the bullpen.
That said, SNY’s Andy Martino suggests that if the Mets use that infield depth to add to the bullpen or rotation (which they’re reportedly willing to do), they could at least consider the idea of pursuing Suárez to take over at the hot corner. The Mets haven’t been keen on parting with top prospects for rental players, but the D-backs have been scouting their Double-A club, in particular, with an eye toward potential Suárez packages, per Martino.
There’s no immediate indication that a Suárez trade will come together quickly on the heels of the Naylor swap, but the very fact that Naylor is on his way out the door serves as a clear indicator that any combination of Suárez, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly — at the very least — could be on the move in the next week. The D-backs also have rental relievers Jalen Beeks and Shelby Miller as trade candidates (Miller is on the injured list but has resumed throwing), and outfielder Randal Grichuk has a mutual option that won’t be exercised by both parties.
I dont see the Astros getting Suarez they dont need him as bad as other teams do.
The Yankees almost have to get a 3b. My guess is it will be Suarez or McMahon.
Do you ever take a breath or even a small sip of water.
Since you know everything about everything don’t you think you’d serve mankind much better by creating an astrophysicist channel or something.
Understaning the galaxies has to be more important than where Ryan McMahon will be next week.
Its a week away from the deadline bozo. Perhaps you need a break. This is why this site exists so chill out and enjoy it junior.
I have travelled many galaxies to tell you that baseball is most important.
doing dmt in your parents basement doesn’t count
I am sure it counts for something. Especially if you discover baseball is most important.
There goes my resume.
What do you say now?
The Astros have 17 players on the disabled list including their starting 3B Isaac Paredes. Also injured; Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Pena and Jake Meyers to name just a few. I would definitely say the Astros need some offensive help.
I don’t know if I agree that the Astros don’t need a player like Suarez as much as others, but I certainly agree that its unlikely they end up with him, They just don’t have the capability to offer as much as other teams once it gets into a bidding war, and the salary cap creates its own hurdle that makes an unlikely deal even more difficult. There are just too many other teams with more robust prospect pools who can afford to overpay if they feel that Suarez is the missing piece.
Astros certainly have the need. Many question that they have the farm depth or salary cap appetite for acquiring Suarez.
NH 2: What salary cap?
Cubs fans do you think hoyer has the package (and balls) to make a trade for Suarez or do you think he’s going to keep Shaw out there and keep dumpster diving
Cubs fans tend to think a small package will get it done. But as they say. Size matters.
I keed I keed
Cubs need pitching. They need to focus on pitching. Merrill Kelly or Zac Gallen make sense. Plus perhaps Shelby Miller for the pen.
Agree. The cubs have one weak position and Shaw isn’t even that bad given his solid defense. As good as Tucker is he hasn’t provided that much more value over Cam Smith so Cubs fans are right to be weary of more farm depletion for rentals. Bullpens win playoff games and the Cubs are missing the 7-8-9 guys that win modern playoff games. Hoyer needs to focus on that before 3B.
It’s interesting to me that you all are assuming the Cubs will make the postseason. As currently constituted, they won’t. They need, at least, a starting pitcher and a good right-handed hitter for the middle of the lineup to stay ahead of more balanced wild-card papabile.
Alan53: wild-card papabile?
I can tell you don’t watch Cubs games unless they play your team. They absolutely need at minimum another solid righty bat. Their bench consists of Jon Berti, Vidal Brujan, Reese McGuire, and Justin Turner. Super awe-inspiring. Also, third base has been a black hole in the line-up for a few seasons now. And that’s before even mentioning Ian Happ’s abysmal season and Horner and Swanson not exactly lighting it up at the dish (which is fine, they mostly get paid for their defense and intangibles).
What? Hoerner and Swanson have been fine hitting. They just aren’t superstars. I do agree they do need someone off the bench and to shed Turner and Brujan.
Correct, but cumulatively with the lack of bench depth, poor offense at 3rd, and Happ not hitting this season, they’re gonna need a righty who can produce better than at or near league average. Especially if any of their mashers go cold or get hurt for an extended period of time.
Happ hasn’t been that bad this season he’s still drawing a ton of walks
He’s like Brandon nimmo right now they should get out of the slump
I’m actually surprised his wRC+ is 100, he’s had a rough June and July. His peripherals (as far as I understand them at least…) look kinda brutal, so I hope you’re right.
Tucker is getting a lot if walks too. But, contrary to the old cliché, a walk is not as good as a hit. Part of the difference between the Brewers (extremely) effective offense and the Cubs (recently) flat one is that the Brewers swing the bat–and when they hit the ball, they hit it fair.
You will have better BABIP luck if you have more balls in play.
Suarez is a 34 year old with 55 games left on his contract and having a career season. Nobody is giving up their top prospects for him. Not the Yankees, not the cubs, not the mariners. He will get an over pay but I guarantee it doesn’t look as great as some people think.
I don’t disagree, and I don’t think Suarez would be worth the requisite prospect capital to acquire him for 2 months. But the lineup needs some offensive depth from somewhere.
I think Hoyer gets a starter. Who it is, not really sure but Diamondbacks are selling do the odds of getting one from them just went up.
Hoyer would never think as big as Suarez. There is nothing he likes better than considering doing something major and then not doing it. To him, that is “trusting the process.”
I hate to sound like the Supreme Wimp Brett Taylor, but you can expect the Brewers to land Suarez for some astoundingly small return, and then Suarez will hit 7 or 8 homers during their 5-game series at Wrigley Field next month.
It will little matter, though, because by then the Brewers will have left the Cubs far behind.
The fact that the Cubs are getting semi decent contributions from behind the plate softens the reality of not getting it from 3B. I believe like many that their needs are on the mound and bench…
crazy talk here but give me Alcantara + Kelly + Fairbanks + bench guy and not give up Caissie, Rojas or Wiggins and I’m good
True. I wonder how long Kelly can keep this up, I hope forever. Which would be doubly good since I’m much less optimistic Amaya will come back and find the same production he had before the oblique injury.
I’d say it’s unlikely, although not out of the realm. The Tucker trade signaled that Jed may be in a bit of a “save my job” mode. If I was betting on it, I would go with Jed putting chips in for controllable starter like Mac Gore rather than Suarez.
Bidding for Suarez will likely get into the stupid territory. Real nice player for a playoff run, but teams are still buying 2-3 months.
My money is on Mariners getting Suarez, they have the prospects that would get the job done.
The Yankees should probably get McMahon, they don’t need offense, they desperately need a legitimate defender at third base especially with the absolute sloppy play against the Blue Jays.
Acoss: Then I can’t help wonder why they spent prospect capital on Naylor instead of keeping their powder dry for Suarez.
They can get both.
Mariners still have prospects but who knows, maybe the Yankees come in and offer the Diamondbacks something better.
I dont know. The Mariners big trade chip is Harry Ford. And I dont think the Diamondbacks need him.
Ford for Jax, Coulombe and Castro.
KoC
There you go again with trying to insert your own personal agenda and passing it off as knowledge of a team’s prospects.
Ford is the Mariners #3 prospect and Ranked #50 in the Top 100 for MLB.
Who are Emerson Mariner’s #1 and 15 in the Top 100, and Montes Mariners #2 and #24 in the Top 100? Chopped liver?
What’s your favorite term for everyone other than you? BOZO
i think he just means that Ford is their big trade chip bc he’s blocked in the organization by Raleigh so they’re probably more willing to move him. i doubt Emerson or Montes are trade chips at all since they’re likely off limits in this market and not even up for discussion
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Not for $33.6M each year (after 110% tax) in ’26 and ’27. If they’re going to spend in that bracket, it should be for a player better than a marginal upgrade.
Okay I hadn’t seen McMahon salary, wow no thanks. Please Hoyer do not get him. Cashman is smart enough to dodge that bullet too. Way too much money and years left for a guy that’s a utility guy at best.
Doubt they too serious in trade talks after landing Naylor. Still back a ways of the Astros, in tough with the wildcard and Rangers now nipping at their heels.
If ownership was sold on this lineup maybe.. but can’t see it or them wanting to thin out a solid farm system on Suarez
The Yankees have defense at 3rd with Peraza but he can’t hit….McMahon is a Coors player who can’t hit even at Coors and his glove has become very suspect…a HUGE NO THANKS!
On the money with McMahon.
My old buddy Gambo from 30 years ago in the high school and college sports department at Newsday!
Does anyone else think the Dodgers may be a dark horse for Suarez? I know they say they’re fine with waiting until Muncy is back but…never say never to them continuing to add
The Diamondbacks will not trade him to LA lmao
Good point lol everyone does have a price, but likely not what the Dodgers would wanna pay
Don’t think the D’Backs and Dodgers have ever done a trade with each other, can’t see it happening with the dislike the D’Back fans have for LA. Would be a bad PR move by AZ.
why not? LAD has a lot to trade. And Arizona couldn’t care less who winds up winning things this year because the Naylor trade indicates they just threw in the towel. And Suarez is a FA after this season,
“Couldn’t care less…” So you’re saying they care?
Yeah Waldo I could see the Dodgers being in on him especially with them playing pedestrian ball lately
If the Brewers want they can put together a package for young, controllable pitching talent that would be hard to beat. Henderson, Patrick, Myers, Rodriguez. One of those plus 3B Wilkins and another young lotto prospect or 2. I’m not really an armchair GM but the Brewers only need one player while other contenders need more. They get Suarez and it’ll be 1982 all over again in Brewtown. Hopefully with better results.
That’d be an overpay for a rental. You gotta give up something to get something. But Henderson/Patrick, Wilkins, AND a lotto ticket on top?
Ken Rosenthal today wrote an article about Attanasio and the Brewers, and in it said MKE would require more than Suarez for either Henderson or Patrick.
who cares what ken thinks?
Timid POBOs like Hoyer worry about overpaying for a rental, but smarter and more aggressive leaders, like those in charge of the Brewers, don’t. You can book it: Suarez is going to Milwaukee. And he will win the World Series for them, the franchise’s first.
I like the way you think.
The Mariner plan could have been let’s get Naylor first, knowing if Seattle wanted both Suarez and Naylor at the same time would have cost a lot more than what they gave the D’Backs for Naylor. With 12 teams inquiring about Suarez, why can’t the Mariners circle back now and see what it will cost them for Suarez. In fact, DePoto and Hazen have a good working repour in trades, it would not surprise me if and when Hazen does get a deal that he might take from another team, he might of made a deal to go back and let DePoto know if he wants to match the deal or beat the deal to get Suarez.
It’s gonna take all the prospects the Cubs have left to get Suarez in addition to the pitching they need.
A good portion of contenders need to fill 3b but many of those same teams need rotation help, too which the snakes need as well.. They’re in a tough spot. I actually believe trading Naylor doesn’t say they’re sellers just yet. Could still keep Suarez and offer him a QO unless someone offered a controllable starter or two.
Don’t see them trading both Gallen and Kelly either.. They can be sellers but I don’t think they’ll punt the rest of the season. Never been their style.
Although, some fans wish they would.
Don’t shade the Reds bringing him back to The Nati.. they have plenty of good young arms in their system. Krall and Tito have to be salivating at the thought of Geno hitting behind Elly..
Would love to see it and hopefully they would extend him for at least two more years but I have my doubts. If they do nothing it just proves they were never serious about winning. Constantly overrating their own prospects while ownership cries poverty.
I love CES, he homered in Louie again tonight, but I’d send him, Petty, Arroyo and and Acosta. They have to overpay. The key is this, I want a 2-3 year extension guarantee before I pull the trigger..
Way too much of an overpay. Petty is enough. Maybe Arroyo if it makes a difference but no more
Petty alone won’t get it done, and it’s time to use the prospect capital they have to put them over the top. Prospects are suspects until they show otherwise, it’s time to use them.
Grichuk might make sense for Houston. He is right handed but plays outfield and is a Houston area guy. Smith is looking tired and having Randall would certainly make things much easier and he is a clear upgrade to Chazzyfizz. Price would be low and that would make Houston happy.
Grichuk is one of the best clutch hitters–if we are still allowed to believe that clutch hitting is a thing.
The astros are not seriously in play for Suarez. They’ll drive up the price and Ms or Yankees will pay. They’ll get someone cheaper and off the radar. Bet!
I know the Tigers don’t advertise their moves ahead of time, but I can’t believe their is no speculation to their interest in Suarez. They definitely have enough in their farm. McKinstry would move to RF with Perez and Vierling covering CF, and Meadows available off the bench. Carpenter can’t come off the IL soon enough!
I am glad to hear that the Mets are not in the mix.
Would I like him in the lineup; Yes.
Do I want them to give up the farm or any significant piece No
That adds up to not trading for him and I am happy with that,
After reading the tepid interview the Atlantic did with the Reds Po Boy, I am even more convinced they will do nothing at best and sell at worst.
If they do nothing I’m OKAY with that. These moves at the deadline rarely work out. I’d rather keep our prospects than overpay. Don’t misunderstand. I’d love to pencil in Suarez at cleanup but at a cost I could live with.
Cubs fans, I’m starting a pool: When will Kyle Tucker next drive in a run?
Labor Day is early this year–Sept.1–but I think he’ll drive in a run before Labor Day.
It’s so great that Jed Hoyer traded for such a TRANFORMATIVE PLAYER. A DIFFERENCE-MAKER. A GENERATIONAL TALENT. A guy Brett Taylor really likes! Our ticket to another 83-79.
I hope the Reds are looking at a three team deal. Suarez to Cincy, Nick Martinez to mystery team in need of pitching and prospects back to D-backs from mystery team.Reds can absorb the loss of Martinez with Speiers or Greenes return. Both vets are free agents and have a $6M difference in salary which can be negotiated.