As the 2025 trade deadline approaches with just over a week remaining, Eugenio Suárez has emerged as the most coveted player in front office discussions across Major League Baseball. Known for his significant power at the plate, Suárez represents a game-changing addition for contenders hoping to strengthen their postseason chances.
The crucial question now is not which teams want him, but which franchise is determined enough to secure his services. The ongoing Eugenio Suárez Cubs trade deadline interest stands out, with Chicago displaying growing urgency to land this impactful third baseman.
Cubs Leading the Chase for a Power-Hitting Third Baseman
In the midst of one of the strongest personal seasons of his career, Suárez has attracted the attention of several playoff-contending clubs. Former MLB executive Jim Duquette identifies the Cubs as the frontrunners among a group that also includes the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, and Milwaukee Brewers.
Currently tied with Aaron Judge for the second-most home runs in the league at 36, Suárez offers an elite power threat that any contender would value highly. All these teams maintain competitive records heading into the deadline, trying to enhance their lineup to clinch top playoff seeds.
Because Suárez is in the final year of his contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team controlling his rights is positioned to negotiate a favorable deal, but the Cubs’ aggressive posture could tip the scales in their favor.
Desperation Drives Intense Trade Negotiations
Jim Duquette appeared on the Days of Roar podcast to provide analysis on the race for Suárez and the broader trade deadline landscape. He emphasized how internal pressures on a team’s management often influence the willingness to make bold moves during critical moments.
“So I think the biggest competition for Suarez, if he is available, would be with the Cubs,”
Duquette stated, highlighting Chicago’s determination to secure the slugger.
Duquette elaborated on how teams with contract deadlines for front office executives tend to show heightened urgency to acquire impact players:
“Like, they are, they’re all in, right? So, looking at this, one of the things I looked at when I had the teams that I was selling, when I was in the front office selling,”
“I went and I looked: okay, who can we kind of take advantage of, the extra internal pressure that there is to win? Who’s the most desperate?”
The Cubs fit this profile perfectly, given that Jed Hoyer, their President of Baseball Operations, is in the final year of his contract, which adds significant pressure to deliver results immediately.
Chicago’s Strong Position Fuels Their Aggressive Pursuit
The Cubs have demonstrated solid performance in the 2025 season, currently sitting at 59-41 and ranking among the league’s top five. They trail the Brewers by just one game in the NL Central and would enter the playoffs as a leading wild-card team if the standings held. Improving their roster with Suárez could be the key to overtaking Milwaukee and winning the division.
Duquette noted the strategic approach other teams might use to negotiate with the Cubs and Detroit, identifying them as the most likely points of leverage in the complex trade discussions:
“So you target, if I’m looking at any team, if I’m Mike Hazen, who’s really smart by the way (all these GMs are smart), I’m going right to the Cubs,”
“I go, ‘Hey, you have upper-level talent, upper-level prospects that fit for me, let’s do a deal.’ And then you’re going to Detroit, and you’re using what you can get from them against them to try and see if you can take a Clark back, or a Megan back, or that kind of thing.”
Across the league, several viable destinations exist for Suárez, but the intensity of the Cubs’ desire to win now surpasses other contenders. This internal desperation could provide Chicago with the crucial edge in closing a deal as the trade deadline nears.
High Stakes in a Competitive Trade Market
The pressure on the Cubs to secure Suárez reflects broader high-stakes negotiations where the differing motivations of each team shape bidding wars. While other clubs like the Tigers contend with longer timelines and less immediate pressure, Chicago’s leadership understands that the 2025 season may heavily influence future front office decisions.
For fans and analysts alike, the upcoming days promise a dramatic showdown as teams vie to land the power bat that could define the trajectory of their postseason.