Editor’s note: On Thursday afternoon, after this story was published, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that the Arizona Diamondbacks are telling clubs they plan to trade some of their veterans. Read that full report here. 

Eugenio Suárez looms as the biggest bat — by far — who could be available at the MLB trade deadline. With a National League-leading 36 home runs and a majors-leading 86 RBIs, the 33-year-old slugger would provide a massive boost to any lineup. But which teams are the most motivated to land him, and will the Arizona Diamondbacks, who remain on the outskirts of the wild-card race, decide to trade him?

Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen has said he hopes the team has a strong finish leading up to the July 31 trade deadline, so that trading away key players — including Suárez, who will be a free agent after this season — becomes a moot point.

“I would love nothing more than to really help the ‘sellers’ by choking out the supply because D-Backs players aren’t available,” Hazen recently told me.

However, the Diamondbacks (50-53) enter Thursday 5 1/2 games out of the final NL wild-card spot, and they face an uphill climb after dealing with numerous injury setbacks, including Corbin Burnes’ season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Hazen doesn’t want to sell, but he also knows that he holds several big trade chips if he does, players who could bring back valuable talent to propel his team in future seasons. Front and center among them is Suárez, an All-Star third baseman with 312 career homers and a .254/.325/.598 (150 OPS+) slash line this season.

At least six contending teams have contacted the Diamondbacks with interest in Suárez, according to major-league sources. If traded, despite being a two-month rental, Suárez would secure a significant trade haul in return for Arizona.

What could it take to land him in this seller’s market?

Here are six teams that have shown interest in Suárez and what the trade return could look like from each of them.

1. New York Yankees

The Yankees will not be trading top prospects Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. I’m told both are off limits. However, they probably would be willing to part with a package highlighted by middle infielder Roderick Arias and left-handed pitcher Brock Selvidge.

If the Diamondbacks wanted to expand a Suárez trade to include an impending-free-agent starter, either Zac Gallen or Merrill Kelly, then perhaps the Yankees would be willing to add recently promoted right-hander Cam Schlittler or outfield power hitter Everson Pereira. There’s certainly a path to a package that could make sense for both sides.

2. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs should be able to land Suárez in a straight-up deal for pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins, who was a second-round pick in 2023. The right-hander has dominated at High A and Double A this season, posting a 2.02 ERA in 14 appearances (13 starts). He has 78 strikeouts and only 33 hits allowed over 62 1/3 innings.

That would be quite a return for two months of Suárez. The Diamondbacks’ biggest need is starting pitching, so it would be difficult for them to turn down that offer. The Cubs could offer outfield prospect Kevin Alcántara first to see if they bite. Alcántara, 23, has slashed .264/.349/.457 this season with 11 homers and nine steals in Triple A. The Cubs match up well with the D-Backs on a Suárez deal due to their strong farm system.

Eugenio Suárez opened the season by hitting four homers in three days against the Cubs. (Norm Hall / Getty Images)3. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers’ most pressing need is in the back of the bullpen, and if they swing big at the deadline, that’s probably what they should address. However, they continue to be linked to Suárez as well as the Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado, who would need to waive his no-trade clause, so it seems they could want to upgrade at third. Adding Suárez’s power behind Gleyber Torres, Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson for a playoff run would be huge for their lineup in terms of power and balance.

Detroit is not going to part with its trio of top prospects: middle infielder Kevin McGonigle, shortstop Bryce Rainer and outfielder Max Clark. All three would be off the table. However, I think the Tigers would include catcher/first baseman Thayron Liranzo, whom they acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers last year in the Jack Flaherty deadline trade, and right-hander Jaden Hamm, who profiles as a future middle-of-the-rotation starter. Liranzo, 22, has a .349 on-base percentage with 10 home runs in 230 at-bats this season at Double A. Hamm, 22, has a 4.27 ERA over 14 starts this season between Low A and Double A; he could be major-league-ready by September of next year.

4. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers have been the hottest team in baseball, and with GM Matt Arnold, the reigning MLB executive of the year, at the helm, don’t be surprised if they make a big splash at the deadline. They have the pitching staff to run the table in October, and adding a power bat like Suárez would be a game-changer for the lineup. The Brewers’ front office has made it clear that their biggest weakness has been the lack of offense on the left side of the infield. They would love to upgrade there, and Suárez is the best available solution.

The Brewers could offer minor-league starter Bishop Letson, who has a 1.33 ERA and 0.85 WHIP with 30 strikeouts in 27 innings this season at High A. The 20-year-old is on the 60-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, so a review of his medical reports would be an essential part of any deal. In addition, the Diamondbacks could also ask Milwaukee to include Caleb Durbin, who could fill in at third base for Suárez until prospect Jordan Lawlar is fully healthy and major-league ready. (Durbin has a 106 OPS+ over 249 at-bats this season and has been worth 2.1 WAR, according to Baseball Reference.)

If those two for Suárez didn’t work, perhaps the Brewers would greenlight a straight-up trade for righty Logan Henderson, considering their starting pitch depth. Henderson, 23, is 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA over four major-league starts and has logged a 3.36 ERA over 15 appearances (14 starts) with 82 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings this season in Triple A.

5. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners regret trading Suárez to the Diamondbacks in 2023, so nothing would be better than to reacquire him at this year’s deadline. He would seriously upgrade their lineup and perhaps be the missing piece needed for a deep October run.

A package highlighted by middle infielder Michael Arroyo and right-hander Ryan Sloan could be enough to get a deal done. Arroyo, 20, has reached base at a .417 clip this season between High A and Double A. He has 17 homers and 49 RBIs. A second-round pick in 2024, Sloan has a 3.43 ERA over 15 starts this season at Low A. The 19-year-old has logged a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5.82.

6. Cincinnati Reds

The Reds seem like a long shot to land Suarez, but they have the farm system to do it if they are motivated. Options abound.

They could offer Arizona two of the following three pitching prospects — lefty Adam Serwinowski, righty Ty Floyd, righty Luke Holman — or one of those pitchers along with middle infielder Peyton Stovall or infielder/outfielder Tyler Callihan, who is currently on the injured list.

However, based on the offers Arizona should get from the rest of the field, it might take one of Cincinnati’s top prospects, third baseman/second baseman Sal Stewart or corner infielder Cam Collier, to get a deal done. I doubt the Reds would do that for a two-month rental, especially since acquiring bullpen and outfield help is their top priority at the deadline.

On Wednesday night, The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans reported that there is mutual interest between the Reds and Diamondbacks in a potential Suárez trade, according to league sources, with right-hander Chase Petty named as a player who could interest Arizona.

So, how will this play out? With a week until the deadline, it’s still unclear.

None of us knows if Suárez will be traded, but teams are submitting offers to the Diamondbacks, and at some point, I expect they’ll get an offer so good they’ll trade him. If so, it will be among the deals that define this deadline.

(Top photo: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)