The Arizona ballclub’s All-Star third baseman, Eugenio Suárez, is potentially the most desired acquisition target at this moment, considering that the MLB’s trading period concludes in under a fortnight (July 31). He launched a couple of home runs on the Saturday prior to the All-Star intermission, repeated this feat on Saturday night, and, unsurprisingly, duplicated it once more on Sunday, securing four RBIs in a 5-3 victory for the Arizona ballclub.
Currently, his batting statistics stand at .257/.328/.601, topping the National League with 35 home runs and 85 RBIs. He’s rightfully recognized as one of the premier power hitters in the major leagues, and this isn’t just a short-term coincidence, as he previously hit 49 home runs in a single season (2019) and is currently experiencing his sixth season with over 30 home runs.
Considering his upcoming free agency post this year, Suárez emerges as a logical trading contender. Furthermore, several prominent competitors demonstrate a requirement for a third baseman. We’re not alluding to rising competitors who might be hesitant to invest; rather, we’re referring to teams actively aiming for a World Series victory this season, such as the Yankees (experiencing a significant deficiency), the Cubs (rookie Matt Shaw showcases a sub-.600 OPS in the major leagues this year), and the Mets (Mark Vientos likely needs to remain at DH, while Ronny Mauricio is yet to validate his place). The Dodgers might warrant engaging in the bidding, and the Brewers would undoubtedly appreciate possessing Suárez as well. The list extends further.
Given that Rafael Devers’ arrangement to San Francisco wasn’t somewhat untimely to consider it premature, Suárez certainly appears to be the leading position player anticipated to be dealt at the deadline this year.
However, there’s more. Suárez’s exceptional performance is aiding the Arizona ballclub in sustaining some momentum in the playoff pursuit. Is being 4 ½ games away from the final wild-card position too proximate to contemplate selling? SportsLine projects a 17.7% likelihood for them to qualify for the postseason. Numerous Arizona ballclub supporters undoubtedly recall advancing to the World Series from that playoff spot and are unwilling to abandon this season. The players recently achieved four consecutive victories to return to .500 at 50-50. Does general manager Mike Hazen genuinely intend to undermine these individuals? He has expressed recently that he does not intend to do so, but general managers frequently utter various statements.
This narrative is compelling to observe in the coming days. Will the Arizona ballclub sustain its winning momentum? If so, the teams pursuing Suárez will probably need to shift toward a considerably less capable third baseman, such as Ryan McMahon. Alternatively, does the prominence of a seller’s market indicate that Arizona should proceed regardless? Should the Arizona ballclub encounter an unfavorable losing streak, the management will possess the capacity to orchestrate a bidding competition for Suárez’s services, potentially contributing to another team’s World Series triumph this year.
