New York — The Yankees are reportedly shifting their trade deadline focus away from the Arizona Diamondbacks after balking at Arizona’s steep demands for slugger Eugenio Suárez. The Diamondbacks’ All-Star third baseman leads the National League with 36 home runs and 86 RBIs this season.
According to multiple reports, Arizona had discussed a massive package that would have sent Suarez and pitchers Merrill Kelly and Jalen Beeks (all pending free agents after 2025) to New York in exchange for five prospects. That rumored proposal would have cost the Yankees a top young arm like Cam Schlittler plus four additional prospects – a “bold gamble” for a trio of short-term rentals.
Suárez himself has been on a tear, swatting five homers in a recent five-game span to boost his season total to 36. The 32-year-old infielder publicly voiced hope that Arizona’s front office would reconsider trading him amid the team’s push back to .500.
“We want to make it a hard decision for [the front office]… I think we have a chance,” Suárez said of the Diamondbacks’ playoff hopes.
With Arizona reportedly planning to trade “some” veterans regardless, the asking price for their slugger remained sky-high. Yankees GM Brian Cashman was unwilling to empty the farm for a short-term fix, especially given the uncertainty of re-signing a player like Suárez after the season.
Yankees check in on Pirates’ power-speed phenom and ace
Instead, the Yankees have set their sights on a blockbuster deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates to address multiple needs at once. League sources say New York has engaged Pittsburgh about dynamic outfielder/shortstop Oneil Cruz and right-handed starter Mitch Keller.
This potential combo offers the Yankees something the Arizona talks could not: an infusion of talent that helps now and in the future. Cruz, 26, provides a rare power-speed blend from the left side of the plate, while Keller, 29, is a proven arm who could bolster the rotation immediately and for years to come.
The Yankees’ interest in Cruz was first reported by the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, though he noted Pittsburgh’s asking price was “steep”. Cruz is a 6-foot-7 athletic phenom with what one evaluator described as “tantalizing tools” – including elite raw power and one of MLB’s strongest throwing arms.
While he can’t quite match Suárez’s home run totals, Cruz has flashed a unique stat line in 2025: a .219 batting average with 16 homers, 40 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases through 91 games. His .739 OPS is only slightly below his career mark, reflecting inconsistent contact but undeniable impact when he connects.
Yankees scouts believe the left-handed hitting Cruz could thrive at Yankee Stadium, and his positional flexibility (he’s played both shortstop and center field for Pittsburgh this year) offers manager Aaron Boone multiple options.
Importantly, Cruz is under team control through 2028, so any team acquiring him would gain three-plus seasons of his prime. That long-term value means the Pirates aren’t inclined to let him go cheaply.
“Some teams have reached out to Pittsburgh about Oneil Cruz, but a source said that while the Pirates will listen, they’re not prioritizing such a move. The source called a Cruz deal ‘unlikely’ unless the offer absolutely blows them away.
In other words, it will take an overwhelming package of young talent to pry Cruz from Pittsburgh, but the Yankees appear willing to explore it given his fit. One Yankees official noted that Cruz’s power-speed combination and upside at a premium position are “exactly what we need for the next few years” (the official requested anonymity because trade talks are ongoing).
On the pitching side, New York’s need for a starter is urgent. The rotation has been decimated by injuries – ace Gerrit Cole underwent Tommy John surgery before Opening Day, and young righty Clarke Schmidt suffered the same fate in July.
“Whether it’s bullpen guys or starting pitchers, it’s just all of it,” Cashman said earlier this month of the Yankees’ pitching crisis.
Keller fits the bill as a mid-rotation workhorse who can take pressure off the Yankees’ staff down the stretch. The Pittsburgh ace is enjoying one of his best seasons, posting a 3.48 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across 20 starts. That strong performance comes despite a lackluster 3-10 record, a product of poor run support on the last-place Pirates. Keller was an All-Star in 2023 and set a franchise record with 210 strikeouts that year, demonstrating his high ceiling. He’s also been remarkably durable – since 2022, Keller is among MLB’s leaders in games started and innings pitched, providing a steady presence every fifth day.
Crucially, Keller is not a rental. The Pirates signed him to a five-year, $77 million extension in 2024 that keeps him under contract through 2028. That team-friendly control makes him a coveted “non-rental” trade chip, as any contender acquiring Keller would secure a proven starter for three additional seasons beyond this year. For the Yankees, that aligns perfectly with their contention window. It also explains why multiple clubs – including the Mets and Cubs – have been in the mix for Keller’s services.
Lately, however, industry insiders say New York has surged ahead. “It seems like the Yankees are really gaining steam on Keller,” reported Pirates beat writer Noah Hiles, noting that there is “more smoke connecting him to the Yankees” than any other team. The Cubs have cooled on Keller (preferring a short-term rental arm), and the Mets remain interested but appear focused elsewhere after a recent deal. That leaves the Yankees as a potential front-runner, especially given their willingness to absorb Keller’s remaining contract.
Proposed Blockbuster Trade Package
To land Oneil Cruz and Mitch Keller, the Yankees will have to put together a blockbuster offer – one sizable enough to “bowl over” the Pirates’ front office. According to multiple reports and league sources, New York has discussed a package built around five young players. In one hypothetical proposal, the Yankees would receive Cruz and Keller, while the Pirates would receive the following prospects:
- C/1B Rafael Flores – Rafael Flores, 24, is a rising power-hitting catcher batting .278 with 41 minor-league homers; his bat-first profile makes him a key trade centerpiece.
- RHP Chase Hampton: A 23-year-old with a mid-90s fastball and high strikeout rate; projects as a mid-rotation starter and could reach MLB by late 2025.
- RHP Clayton Beeter: MLB-ready 25-year-old swingman with a 3.91 ERA in 2025; profiles as a back-end starter or long reliever with a power fastball and breaking ball.
- INF Oswald Peraza: Elite defender with speed, blocked in New York; Peraza offers MLB experience, infield versatility, and upside if given everyday reps in a new environment.
- OF Everson Pereira: Toolsy outfielder with big power and strong arm; slashed .265/.346/.512 before injury. High-upside bat with strikeout risk, fits as a future corner outfielder.
This proposed package would be massive, but that is the price of doing business for two impact players like Cruz and Keller. Notably, the Yankees’ offer in this scenario does not include their most untouchable prospects – outfielder Jasson Domínguez (ranked No. 21 in MLB) or 6-foot-6 slugger Spencer Jones – nor their top young pitchers like Will Warren or Bryce Cunningham.
New York has been hesitant to discuss Jones in particular, who has top-100 prospect talent, even in a Keller trade. Instead, the Yankees are attempting to overwhelm Pittsburgh with depth and quality across multiple positions, while keeping their very elite prospects off the table. That approach could appeal to Pirates GM Ben Cherington, who has often favored quantity over one franchise centerpiece in trade returns.
If the Yankees agree to take on the entirety of Keller’s remaining contract (approximately $54.5 million after this season through 2028), Pittsburgh might accept a slightly less blue-chip package in exchange for shedding salary and retooling the roster with five young players.
From the Pirates’ perspective, a haul of Flores, Hampton, Beeter, Peraza, and Pereira would check several boxes. Catcher of the future? Flores could be that, addressing an organizational weakness. Rotation help? Hampton has mid-rotation potential by 2026, and Beeter can contribute now. Infield replacement? Peraza steps in for Cruz with a cost-controlled, MLB-ready defender. Outfield depth? Pereira brings upside to a franchise that can afford to be patient as he develops.
“They could secure a top-tier catching prospect and multiple MLB-ready pieces… this helps reload their core with players ready now and others knocking on the door,” one AL scout said of the Pirates’ return (speaking on background about the rumored framework).
In short, the trade would kickstart a Pittsburgh retool, albeit at the cost of two of their most popular current players.
Why New York Favors the Pirates’ Package
Here is a rewritten version of the full section, condensed to approximately 300 words while retaining all figures, key points, and structure:
This potential Yankees-Pirates blockbuster is gaining momentum because it satisfies New York’s win-now mandate without compromising their long-term outlook. By pivoting from the Diamondbacks’ steep rental-based demands to the Pirates’ offer, Brian Cashman is maximizing value—targeting players who can contribute in 2025 and remain in pinstripes beyond. Oneil Cruz fits the bill perfectly. The 6-foot-7 slugger gives the Yankees a much-needed left-handed power bat and adds dynamic speed (33 stolen bases, tops in MLB). While Eugenio Suárez was the original target, Cruz offers greater upside and team control through 2028. With 16 homers and a .739 OPS this season, he’s capable of providing a 30-homer, 30-steal impact from multiple positions—third base, outfield, or DH—while also taking advantage of Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch.
On the mound, Mitch Keller fills a gaping hole in the Yankees’ injury-riddled rotation. With Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt sidelined following Tommy John surgery and other arms like Luis Gil and Nestor Cortes recovering, Keller provides immediate reinforcements. The 29-year-old has a 3.48 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across 20 starts this season despite a 3-10 record caused by poor run support. Signed through 2028 on a five-year, $77 million deal, Keller would become a mid-rotation anchor behind Carlos Rodón and ahead of top prospects like Drew Thorpe or George Lombard Jr.
At 56–46 and 4.5 games behind the Blue Jays, the Yankees need a spark. Cruz and Keller would do just that. Financially, the Pirates duo is cost-effective: Cruz earns the league minimum, and Keller’s $15 million salary fits future budgets. Compared to Arizona’s proposed rentals costing $5–6 million for two months, this deal offers longer-term value. With the July 31 deadline looming, Cruz-Keller may be the Yankees’ Plan A—and the bold yet smart play Cashman is ready to make.
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