ESPN: The Yankees acquire top Arizona All-Star slugger for $66 million deal.

As one of MLB’s top clubs, the New York Yankees are getting close to the July trade deadline. Aaron Judge, a strong American League MVP favorite who has a chance to capture the Triple Crown, leads their attack. With Carlos Rodon enjoying an incredible comeback season and Max Fried leading the way, they have a formidable top of the starting rotation.

Devin Williams has been much better lately, and Luke Weaver is expected to return early next month, despite the bullpen’s inconsistency. Even without Gerrit Cole (who had Tommy John surgery) and Juan Soto (who signed with the New York Mets), the Yankees club this year could be even stronger than the one that advanced to the World Series in 2024. But before the trade deadline, there are a few obvious gaps that must be filled, and third base could be the biggest.

Jazz Chisholm’s move to third base, which the Yankees attempted to solve, creates a void at second base, where Chisholm is a better and more natural defender nevertheless. As a result, the Yankees ought to try to acquire a third baseman before the deadline, and ESPN’s Brad Doolittle has the perfect suggestion: Eugenio Suarez of the Arizona Diamondbacks. When debating what New York should accomplish by the deadline, Doolittle said the following.

“First, take notice of this month’s Stock Watch, which shows that the Yankees have the best title odds. Despite the travel disadvantage, the Yankees had a little advantage over the Tigers in all of those simulated AL Championship Series matches because New York has a better baseline rating than Detroit. Additionally, compared to their NL counterparts, New York and Detroit’s playoff routes are less congested with superteams, therefore the Yankees’ chances of winning the championship appear to be favorable. To remain there: Although the Yankees have done a fantastic job of putting things together thus far, they definitely need more pitching. A power hitter at third base may provide a more significant boost; Eugenio Suarez of Arizona immediately springs to mind as a perfect fit.

Suarez, 33, is hitting well this season, slashing.233/.305/.514 with 19 home runs, 52 RBIs, and an OPS of.819 thus far. The former All-Star hit a career-high 49 home runs in 2019 and has hit at least 30 home runs in three of the last four seasons.
Suarez’s slugging more than makes up for his lackluster defending skills. The Yankees, who have gotten a total performance of 0.0 fWAR at third base, would greatly benefit from his arrival. However, Suarez has produced 1.2 fWAR on his own.

Lastly, Suarez’s contract is about to expire since Arizona exercised his $15 million club option after he completed his seven-year, $66 million contract. For half a season of output, he shouldn’t cost New York a much, and his bat may make the difference in a brief postseason series. Suarez has an OPS of.810 in eight postseason games over his career.