The Yankees are spiraling; they just stumbled into their second six-game losing streak in just three weeks. The front office has plenty to fix to fuel their postseason run, including the pitching staff and defensive concerns. But one issue that’s quietly bubbling into a bigger problem? DJ LeMahieu. The veteran second baseman is still manning the middle infield, but what if keeping him there is costing the Yankees their best option at the position? A shake-up might not just be necessary—it might be inevitable.

Let’s face it, LeMahieu is no longer the Gold Glove defender he once was. He has a minus-one Outs Above Average this year, and with every passing game, his struggles are becoming more clear. But the Yankees still have not made any changes in the infield, even though they have Jazz Chisholm, who spent all offseason preparing to be the second baseman. Where is he now? At third base, clearly uncomfortable.

“Everybody knows I’m a second baseman. Of course, I want to play second base,” said Chisholm to The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner. That’s why it’s better to sort this out soon, and the Yankees are already eyeing two third basemen to make it happen.

“The Yankees would love to acquire D-backs third baseman Eugenio Suárez at the deadline and slide Jazz Chisholm back to second base,” wrote Bob Nightengale of USA Today. “The Yankees, along with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs, have also expressed interest in Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes,” he continued. With the trade deadline just weeks away, the front office will have to make a move for one of these players.

The 28-year-old Hayes is one of the best defensive forces and could be a great addition at third base. The 2023 Gold Glove winner is currently in his sixth season with the Pirates. And Suárez? He is red-hot at third base for Arizona while putting up an All-Star-worthy season. And Nightengale is not the only one who finds him a perfect match for the Yankees lineup. “A reunion with the Mariners or a deal with the Yankees—who could then move Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second base—would make a lot of sense,” wrote Jim Bowden while discussing trade options for the 33-year-old veteran. There is no doubt: if the D-backs become sellers, Suárez will be the top name on a lot of teams’ wish lists.

As Jon Heyman said earlier, “They’ve got to move Jazz to second… or make a trade for a third baseman,” and adding Suárez at third base could easily give them the lineup upgrade the Yankees need. But even as experts expect him to be one of the most sought-after names at the trade deadline, it seems like Suárez wants to stay right where he is.

Suárez speaks out amid trade rumors

Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen has expressed his wish to be buyers rather than sellers. But if the team’s record doesn’t improve by the trade deadline, they may have no choice but to sell. They are fourth in the NL West, just hovering around .500. Even though this season hasn’t given much for the team to hope for, they have a player who is on track for the best season of his career. Suárez who has become a focal point in trade discussions. But guess what? He wishes to remain a Diamondbacks player.

“I don’t want to leave Arizona,” Suárez said in an interview with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. “Obviously, we know how the business of baseball is. But right now, I feel comfortable. I feel every time we win a game, we’ve got a chance to make the playoffs. Every time we lose, maybe something like that pops in my mind. Which is not good for me. I don’t want to get traded.”, he added.

Of course, Eugenio Suárez is well aware that his future in Arizona isn’t guaranteed, and with a possible trade looming, interest from other teams comes as no surprise. After all, we’re talking about a $66 million slugger putting up one of the best seasons of his career. He has a .255 batting average and a .891 OPS. Not only that, he ranks fourth in home runs with 28 this season and third in RBIs with 73.

Even as he hopes for a long-term future with the team, there’s no telling what the team will decide. But Suárez is clear about where he stands: “If I could choose one place to go, I would want to stay here.” Will Arizona pull the trigger despite his wishes? We’ll have to wait and see.

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