The Yankees are aggressively working the phones for a third baseman, but with multiple teams chasing Eugenio Suárez, their Plan A could fall apart fast. Even the D-Backs remain uncertain about moving him. After all, the 12-year MLB veteran is slashing .251/.322/.567 in his second season with Arizona, besides notching 31 home runs and leading the National League with 78 RBI with .889 OPS. But that’s where things get interesting and unconventional for the Yankees. Instead of turning to a typical fallback option like Ryan McMahon or Ke’Bryan Hayes, former GM Jim Bowden suggests a curveball that few fans expected: a crosstown deal with the Mets.

Bowden’s hypothetical? The New York Yankees have decided to trade their outfield prospect Jasson Domínguez to the Queens team in return for Mark Vientos. A third baseman known for his big league potential but lacking consistent opportunities in Flushing so far. It’s quite a move that hinges on the Yankees having an outfield bench and being open to dealing from their surplus players. With Spencer Jones tearing up Triple-A and outfield reps soon to become scarce, Bowden believes the Yankees could use that leverage to fix their infield hole without overpaying in prospect capital.

“Quite frankly, the minute the Yankees promote Jones, they’re going to have a better team,” Bowden said on Foul Territory. “Because of that outfield depth, maybe they take an outfielder and turn it into a third baseman. If it’s not the Mets, maybe it’s the Royals and Mikel Garcia, but it might be a contender-for-contender type of trade.”

The idea isn’t just about swapping talent, it’s about unlocking opportunity. Vientos has shown legitimate power upside, boasting .221 /.275 /.627, 6 HR, 25 RBI across 244 AB, but is blocked in the Mets’ crowded corner infield. Meanwhile, Domínguez, still recovering from injury, faces an even more crowded picture in the Bronx with Judge, Bellinger, and Grisham entrenched. Add in Spencer Jones’ breakout season, 26 homers, a .400 OBP, and the Yankees suddenly have the luxury of exploring something big.

If the Suárez sweepstakes gets too rich or too complicated, expect Brian Cashman to get creative. A Domínguez-for-Vientos swap may sound taboo in New York baseball circles, but it checks more boxes than people think. It’s not just about filling a gap; it’s about doing it smartly, without sacrificing long-term control or roster balance. In this situation, the unexpected decision could turn out to be the logical one.

Yankees: If not the Mets, then who?

If a Jasson Domínguez–Mark Vientos swap proves too radical, or if the Mets refuse to dance with their Bronx rivals, the Yankees still have other avenues to explore. One name gaining quiet traction is Maikel Garcia, the Royals’ slick-fielding third baseman who just made his first All-Star appearance. Garcia may not have the power of Vientos or Suárez, but his exceptional fielding skills and speed, along with his improving abilities, could bring a boost of athleticism that New York sorely needs on the left side of the infield.

Ryan McMahon is also a figure in the mix as an infielder for the Rockies over the years. His bat isn’t overwhelming, but he does offer pop from the left side and Gold Glove-caliber defense, something Suárez doesn’t. The hang-up? McMahon is under contract through 2027, and the Rockies are notoriously reluctant to move controllable veterans unless blown away. Still, the Yankees could try to build a package around controllable arms or one of their blocked catching prospects to get the conversation moving.

A third possibility: Ke’Bryan Hayes of the Pirates. His bat hasn’t blossomed quite the way Pittsburgh hoped, but his glove is elite, and at just 27 years old, he’s still got time to turn a corner offensively. However, Hayes is under contract through 2029, and the Pirates have no urgency to sell unless it’s a clear overpay.

For the Yankees, that likely means parting with top-tier prospects, something they may prefer to avoid if Spencer Jones is about to force their hand anyway.