By JAKE NISSE and DANIEL MATTHEWS
Published: | Updated:
Eugenio Suarez continued his red-hot form this weekend amid reports that the Yankees could trade for him at the deadline.
Suarez has blasted four home runs in the last two days as of Sunday to bring his season total to 35 – trailing only Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge.
And the timing could hardly be better for the Diamondbacks star as the Yankees mull acquiring him at the trade deadline, which is July 31.
USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale wrote in a column that the Yankees would ‘love’ to add Suarez if he becomes available for the trade, while he also suggested the Yankees were keeping tabs on him after he hit his 32nd homer of the season on Saturday.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman has also reported that the Yankees have inquired about Suarez, who was named an All-Star for the second time this season.
He went on to say that the Diamondbacks – who are 50-50 after beating the Cardinals on Sunday – were unsure of trading away Suarez, while he also named the Mariners and Cubs as potential suitors.
Eugenio Suarez is having a tremendous season for the Diamondbacks – and has become a target for the Yankees
Aaron Judge and the Yankees have slid in the standings and could use Suarez’s offense
Suarez has blasted 35 home runs this season and earned his second All-Star nod
Suarez will be an unrestricted agent after the end of the season, and could provide a massive hitting boost to the Yankees or one of their rivals.
He entered Arizona’s clash against St. Louis on Sunday with a .911 OPS, and his two homers in the game brought him up to 85 RBIs on the season.
The third baseman’s success this weekend comes as the Yankees Jorbit Vivas’ was slammed for a baserunning blunder on Friday night.
The rookie, who plays the same position as Suarez, came under fire after being caught out by Ronald Acuna Jr’s stunning 301-foot throw on Friday night.
New York had two on and one out when Atlanta Braves superstar Acuna Jr. – after catching a fly ball from Cody Bellinger – launched a remarkable throw that saw Vivas tagged out as he ambled from second to third base.
The double play ended the Yankees inning and left Aaron Judge on deck.
And Yankees announcers on YES Network branded Vivas’ actions ‘inexcusable’.
‘That can’t happen. Those are little things that cost you a chance to have Aaron Judge hit with first and third,’ former Yankees manager Joe Girardi said on air.
‘You just took the bat out of Aaron Judge’s hands. First of all, you’re not running hard to third, then you don’t slide. As you said, perfect word, inexcusable,’ Michael Kay added.
Vivas has struggled at the plate this season after his call-up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, as he’s hit just .163 at the plate in 58 games.
And the Yankees have experienced a summer slide as well as they’ve gone just 13-17 in their last 30 contests.
New York beat the Braves 4-2 on Sunday to move to 55-44 on the year, and it remains to be seen if they’ll soon add Suarez to the lineup.
