The Detroit Tigers have been one of the best stories through the first half of the 2025 MLB season. They are currently tied for the best record in baseball (51-31) and have shown everybody that their playoff run from last year wasn’t a fluke.
The Tigers are one of the best teams in the majors and should be one of the several squads looking to be buyers at the trade deadline. For Detroit to take that next step and possibly play for a World Series title, they need two things: another bullpen arm and a right-handed power bat at the hot corner.
A bullpen arm might be easier to acquire for Detroit, given the options available from several teams who aren’t in the playoff race. However, the Tigers shouldn’t give up on their pursuit of a third baseman.
One option that has been mentioned as a possible target is Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Eugenio Suarez, who is a former Tiger. But Detroit isn’t the only AL team that has Suarez on its radar.
MLB Rumors: Yankees Eyeing Potential Tigers' Trade Target
According to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY, the New York Yankees are keeping a close eye on veteran third baseman.
"The American League is wide open, and the Yankees are poised to take full advantage of the opportunity. They badly need a third baseman or a second baseman, and realize there’s 0% chance that the Red Sox answering their prayers by trading them Alex Bregman. They are keeping a close eye on Suarez and Kiner-Falefa, which would allow them to move Jazz Chisholm back to second base. They have Devin Williams and Luke Weaver at the back end of the bullpen, but would like to have one more arm. Their ultimate prize could be Alcantara, giving them a powerful rotation, particularly when Gerrit Cole returns next year."
It’s not shocking to see the Yankees lurking around for another bat, and specifically Suarez, who could do serious damage playing at Yankee Stadium.
The 33-year-old Suarez has almost surpassed his 2024 production (.256 with 30 home runs and 101 RBI) through the first half of the 2025 campaign. The veteran third baseman is hitting .251 with 25 home runs and 67 RBI for an Arizona squad that’s only three games out of the final wild card spot in the National League.
Suarez is making $15 million this season and will become an unrestricted free agent next year. If the Diamondbacks fall out of the playoff race between now and the end of July, one wonders how much it would cost to acquire the veteran slugger.
The Tigers would likely not want to give up their top hitting prospects, such as Max Clark or Kevin McGonigle, who are still a couple of years away. Therefore, maybe a prospect ranked between 15th and 20th in the Tigers’ system could push talks forward.
Suarez would be a tremendous addition to the middle of the Tigers’ lineup, giving them another power bat to go with Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson. Nonetheless, we’ll see how things play out as the next few weeks will determine how the trade deadline plays out.