The New York Yankees are approaching the trade deadline with a clear mission: to strengthen their team to secure the American League East crown. In this regard, the club’s general manager, Brian Cashman, is not mincing his words: “We’re going for it. We’re going to do everything in our power to get better,” he said. And while he acknowledges that the main weakness remains pitching, the search for a heavyweight third baseman has become an urgent priority.
Currently, the Yankees have two main names on their radar for third base: Eugenio Suarez of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Ryan McMahon of the Colorado Rockies. The decision is not an easy one, as the choice could define the team’s direction in the second half of the season and their playoff aspirations.
Suarez has the advantage
The balance is heavily tilted towards Eugenio Suarez and for good reason. The 34-year-old veteran, who is in the final year of his $66 million contract, is having a renaissance season. His numbers are impressive: he is hitting .257 with 35 home runs, 85 RBIs and a .928 OPS. Suarez is not only at the top of the National League in home runs, only surpassed by Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge himself, but his batting has been fundamental for the Diamondbacks to maintain a .500 record.
This brilliant performance, however, creates a dilemma for Arizona. Suarez himself is aware of the situation. According to columnist Bob Nightengale, the third baseman has said: “We want it to be a tough decision for them (the front office)… I think we have a chance,” referring to his team’s postseason aspirations. If the Diamondbacks stay in the race, they could opt to keep him, which would be bad news for the Yankees. If not, Arizona could take advantage of Suarez’s high market value to capitalize and secure prospects for the future.
The Yankees’ ambition
The Yankees’ appetite for improvement goes beyond a third baseman. Ricky Ricardo, the iconic Spanish voice of the Yankees on radio, has revealed on his show a trade proposal that could shake up the league. According to Ricardo, the team is considering a package that would send “five prospects, including Schlittler,” to the Diamondbacks in exchange for Merrill Kelly (Arizona’s ace), Eugenio Suarez and reliever Jalen Beeks. This ambitious move would not only solve the need at third base, but also provide a stellar arm to a rotation that so desperately needs it.
The Yankees continue to move quickly in this market and it remains to be seen whether any of these moves will come to fruition and what the final choice will be by Cashman and the front office.
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