On July 9, the New York Yankees stunned the baseball world with a shocking move. They cut loose the veteran infielder from his contract. That decision left nearly $22 million on the table. But, more than anything, it sent a clear message across Major League Baseball: the Yankees were moving on, no matter the cost. General Manager Brian Cashman said cutting the two-time batting champion was “best for the roster configuration going forward.” The problem here is that this has now left a proven, though declining, player on the market with a league minimum contract.

That veteran is D.J. LeMahieu, who immediately became the talk among the contenders. He is hitting a passable .266 with a .338 on-base percentage in 2025. The result of those numbers is a 91 OPS+, just under league average. But his recent injury and defensive liabilities give pause. Jon Morosi of MLB Network immediately pointed to the Seattle Mariners. He believes they might be a potential fit for LeMahieu. This speculation certainly seems valid, but upon closer examination, the picture seems to be more complex.

But LeMahieu’s road to the Pacific Northwest may not be as open as it seems. The veteran may have one big obstacle in signing with the Mariners. And there is a new, bigger-name figure on the Seattle radar. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported on this major development. He wrote, “The Seattle Mariners, after [trading] Suárez to the Diamondbacks in November 2023, now would love to have him back in their lineup – and have interest in [Josh] Naylor, too.” That throws the entire notion of Seattle and LeMahieu completely for a loop.

Reuniting with Eugenio Suárez is an intriguing option for Seattle. ‘Geno’ is having a massive comeback year with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He has hit 31 home runs with 77 RBIs and an impressive 137 wRC+. That means he has been 37 percent better than the average major league hitter. On comparison, LeMahieu has two homers and a 91 wRC+. The disparity in offensive damage is more than a gap; let’s call it a canyon. Real run production is exactly what Seattle needs, and the bill for it is filled perfectly by Suárez.

Then there is Suárez’s teammate, first baseman Josh Naylor. He provides something different, but no less valuable. Naylor is a contact hitter at heart. He boasts a. 295, with an excellent 12.6% strikeout rate. That would even out a Mariners lineup known for its “three true outcomes” style. And while LeMahieu presents a potential middle-of-the-diamond bargain, Naylor is a high-floor, lineup-balancing bat.

It’s a fascinating puzzle for many teams in this complex marketplace. It’s a game of high-stakes musical chairs at the corner infield positions.

Yankees, Mariners face off for power bat 

The Yankees didn’t just make a free agent by not re-signing LeMahieu. They also blew a gaping hole in their roster. And now New York is head-to-head with Seattle for those same players. Buster Olney and other insiders have linked the Yankees directly to Eugenio Suárez. They consider him the ideal rental to replace their latest black hole at third base. This sets up a bidding war between the two, to no one’s benefit other than the Arizona Diamondbacks.

That bare-fanged rivalry would make any potential deal extremely complicated. A trade is no longer an exchange of one for one. It’s a strategic calculation against a somewhat perfected rival. In the Mariners’ case, that would likely mean the acquisition of Suárez or Naylor would come at a high price. And realistic options would likely require giving up someone of value. They could deal young starter Emerson Hancock for Suárez. The price to acquire Naylor could be as high as a top-100 prospect like catcher Harry Ford. Every day, the price of conflict goes up.

And the Yankees don’t have that many options. The Mariners are desperate for an upgrade at the hot corner. And their main third baseman, rookie Ben Williamson, has provided a steady glove. But his bat has been silent, collecting only a single home run and a 78 wRC+. Suárez would be a massive offensive boost. His 31 homers are thirty more than Williamson has hit. Suárez is a reliable veteran with over 90 games at third base this season alone. He provides the exact middle-of-the-order power bat Seattle is missing.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are in a similar crisis after LeMahieu’s departure. Their internal options are young and largely unproven. Players like Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas are not ready for a World Series push. Peraza is projected to produce a sub-.620 OPS. On the other hand, Suárez’s .886 OPS would instantly transform that position from a liability into a major strength. His experience and power are exactly what the Yankees need for the stretch run, making him a prime target for two contending powerhouses.