Multiple teams are reportedly interested in Arizona Diamondbacks slugger and third baseman Eugenio Suarez.
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees are among those inquiring about Suarez ahead of the MLB trade deadline.
Seattle Times’ Adam Jude adds Suarez is the No. 1 priority for the Mariners and would prefer the third baseman over D-backs first baseman Josh Naylor, who has also been floated in trade rumors.
The interest in Suarez continues to grow after opening up the second half of the season on an absolute tear.
After roping a pair of home runs in back-to-back games in a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, Suarez added another bomb in Monday’s loss to the Houston Astros.
Across the past three games, the third baseman has tallied five home runs, eight RBIs and five runs scored. He slashed .455/.538/1.818 with a 2.357 OPS during that span.
“He’s playing like Nintendo, it’s just unbelievable,” skipper Torey Lovullo told reporters after Monday’s loss. “You can’t imagine the feeling in the dugout. … I’m amazed by what he does every single day.”
His return to play, which earned him NL Player of the Week honors, now has Suarez in the MLB lead for RBIs (86) and tied for second in home runs (35) behind only Seattle’s Cal Raleigh.
But while he’s focused on winning games in Arizona, Suarez will be a name to watch as the deadline closes in.
Arizona losing its series opener against Houston and falling back below to .500 certainly doesn’t help quiet the noise surrounding the slugger.
Diamondbacks fielding trade calls on Eugenio Suarez, others
Suarez is getting most of the attention with the deadline right around the corner, with ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel pegging him as the No. 1 trade candidate.
He isn’t the only Diamondback being talked about, though, with starters Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly firmly in the discussion even if the former has underperformed this year.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers writes:
The Diamondbacks are getting as many calls — if not more — about Zac Gallen as they are for Merrill Kelly, even though the latter starting pitcher is having the better season. Teams interested in adding to their rotations still have more faith in the 29-year-old Gallen than the 36-year-old Kelly.
Across 21 starts this season (121 innings pitched), Gallen is posting a career worst 5.58 ERA and 1.372 WHIP. He’s 7-11.
Despite appearing to have turned a corner at the beginning of July, Gallen has since regressed, allowing six earned runs in each of his past two starts. Arizona lost both those games.
Kelly, meanwhile, has been Arizona’s best starting option this year behind a 3.32 ERA and 1.057 WHIP in 21 starts (122 innings pitched). He’s 9-5.
