The Arizona Diamondbacks and Eugenio Suarez’s slew of suitors, which includes the Milwaukee Brewers, must have let out a gasp Monday night when the slugger took a pitch to the hand in the ninth inning against Detroit. Suarez loped out of the box shaking his hand, was met by trainers, and escorted to the dugout soon after. For Arizona and company, a sigh of relief is in order after Tuesday’s update indicated that Suarez suffered no broken bones or any other serious injuries. He will sit out tonight’s game nonetheless as a precaution.
While this is good news for teams hoping to add his bat before the trade deadline, it doesn’t do anything to suppress his cost. As far as rentals go, it should be a fairly hefty one.
Eugenio Suarez healthy could be major trade deadline domino for Milwaukee Brewers, many others
According to reporter Francys Romero, in trade discussions with the Yankees, the Diamondbacks demanded a high-level prospect, a lower-level prospect, and an unspecified major leaguer in exchange for Suarez. New York didn’t bite and talks sputtered.
For a pending free agent, that’s quite a haul. Despite his monster season so far (36 HRs, 87 RBIs), many teams won’t be willing to deplete their farm systems for a two-month rental.
With the number of interested teams, however, Arizona should get something decent when the dust settles on the bidding war. The Cubs, Mariners, Reds, Phillies, Tigers, and Brewers have all been named as potential destinations – among others.
Suarez-to-Milwaukee rumors have persisted despite a clearly clunky roster fit. Trading for Suarez would require one of two ill-advised adjustments.
1. In order to keep getting at bats, Caleb Durbin would have to switch from third, Suarez’s position, over to shortstop. Current shortstop Joey Ortiz would move to the bench.
Durbin, however, has not made a start there this season – he’s been stellar at third – and played the position minimally in the minors. Even if he did move over, Suarez is on the decline defensively. He has not spent time anywhere besides third or DH for several years now. Not only would Durbin be forced out of his comfort zone – look how that’s worked for Ortiz offensively – Suarez represents a substantial defensive downgrade at third base.
2. Suarez takes over at DH, forcing Christian Yelich to the outfield. Yelich is a poor defender these days, and putting him in the field hikes his injury risk. He underwent season-ending back surgery halfway through 2024. On top of that, left fielder Isaac Collins, who has been valuable with both bat and gove, would be forced out of the everyday lineup. Sliding him around in a utility role wouldn’t be the end of the world, but his fielder replacement can’t be Yelich. Bottom line: paying for Suarez’s bat in prospects, defense, and roster disruption simply isn’t worth it.
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The Brewers could also try him at first, but his only career appearance there was two innings in relief this season. It doesn’t seem like a great idea to learn a new position on the fly, and anyway, Milwaukee will have Rhys Hoskins back at some point and Andrew Vaughn is there already. Scorning potential trade scenarios, Vaughn just keeps on hitting.
This is to say nothing of whatever the team would have to give up to get him. Logan Henderson? Or more likely given the Yanks’ talks, Henderson plus stuff? Likely to sign a large free agency contract, Suarez also isn’t the type of player that fits the frugal franchise playbook.
Although the Brewers seem poised for a possible splash, if someone shells out for Suarez, it probably won’t be Milwaukee, and nor should it. Hopefully his hand heals up smoothly so he can keep hitting homeruns for someone else.
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