The New York Yankees have a gaping wound at third base. It’s been a revolving door of failed experiments and declining veterans throughout the season. It started with Oswaldo Cabrera, whose time was limited by injury. It resulted in the brief, awkward use of Jazz Chisholm Jr. before he was returned to second. And then the breathtaking decision to designate DJ LeMahieu for assignment. Now, the position belongs to that Platoon of Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas, a duo producing a black hole of offense. Peraza is hitting a woeful .150, making him one of the worst hitters in baseball.
With the trade market deadline approaching, YES Network insider Jack Curry called it murky and complex. He said the Yankees’ front office has been far more transparent than in previous years about what it plans to do. “There’s so many teams still hovering around with the chance to get a wildcard spot,” Curry explained. He then confirmed that General Manager Brian Cashman has already exposed his needs to the entire league. Curry added, “Cashman was blunt about the Yankees needs when he did a press conference recently, he talked about getting a third baseman, some bullpen help, some rotation help.”
But then Curry dropped a bombshell in regards to the team’s top target, slugger Eugenio Suárez. He warned of many unfounded rumors. “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,” he began. Then, he got specific. “You talk about a guy like Suarez, I know the Yankees have NOT had substantive conversations with the Diamondbacks.” But he leaves the door open, adding, “going forward, we will see if that does occur, but we do know Cashman and his front office are working very hard.”
Jack Curry on Eugenio Suárez:
“I know the #Yankees have not had substantive conversations with the Diamondbacks. Going forward, we’ll see if that does occur.”
— Bronx Bombers News (@NewsBronx) July 23, 2025
Curry’s update couldn’t have come at a more complicated time for the Yankees. It came at the same time Suárez had made clear, publicly, that he wanted to play elsewhere. The All-Star third baseman confirmed he’d like to return to the Tigers in an interview with the Detroit Free Press. “Baseball is baseball. I might be finishing where everything started. It doesn’t sound crazy,” Suárez shared. He lauded Detroit’s young talent, especially pitcher Tarik Skubal, and made it clear that a homecoming would be meaningful. This leaves the Yankees in a very difficult position, transforming a mere bidding war into a contest against emotion.
But these latest developments just beg the larger question: Why in the first place was the Suárez-to-the-Yankees rumor so robust? It’s all about the anatomy of a deal that almost seemed too good to be true.
Anatomy of a Blockbuster Rumor
The reason the Yankees would want to make that kind of move is pretty straightforward: Eugenio Suárez is having a monster season. The two-time All-Star is batting .250 with 31 home runs and a league-best 78 RBIs. His. 889 OPS is elite. His contract is perfect for a rental, since he is a free agent after the season. An acquiring team would only owe him about $5 million for the rest of the year. While his defense is a concern (-5 Defensive Runs Saved) but the offensive upgrade over the Yankees’ current options would be monumental.
The rumors escalated well beyond just a one-for-one trade. Reports circulated about a possible eight-player blockbuster. The Yankees would acquire Suárez, starting pitcher Merrill Kelly and reliever Jalen Beeks. In exchange, the Diamondbacks would receive five prospects, including Cam Schlittler and Everson Pereira. This single move would have fixed New York’s third base hole. It would have bolstered a rotation dealing with Max Fried’s blister issues and added a key bullpen arm. It was a dream scenario that addressed multiple needs in one move.
If the blockbuster dream really is dead, the Yankees will need to adjust accordingly. The market ranges with a few alternatives, each with a slightly different profile. Ke’Bryan Hayes of the Pirates is the defensive wizard. The former Gold Glover has an incredible +15 Defensive Runs Saved. But his bat is a huge liability, with two home runs and a .589 OPS this season. He is under contract for the long term on a team-friendly deal.
Or perhaps the Rockies’ Ryan McMahon, who provides a mix of steady defense and left-handed power. There, the biggest obstacle is McMahon’s contract, as he is owed a significant salary through 2027. For a more complete player, Jim Bowden of The Athletic points to the Royals’ Maikel Garcia. And for a low-cost, familiar fix, the team could look into reuniting with ex-Yankee Isiah Kiner-Falefa. He’d bring Gold Glove defense and a small but meaningful boost offensively.
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