Cubs Rumors: Eugenio Suarez’s hot streak might force deadline backup plan

In case there was any doubt over Eugenio Suárez being the top rental bat available at the MLB trade deadline, the All-Star third baseman hit four home runs over the course of the Arizona Diamondbacks' three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals this past weekend. Before the All-Star break, the Diamondbacks were all but ready to move Suárez at the deadline, but their sweep of the Cardinals seems to have delayed that conversation once again.

Previewing the Cubs' deadline plans, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic confirm that Suárez is near the top of the Cubs' radar ahead of the deadline. That said, they also report the Diamondbacks are ready to take a decision up until July 31, and that could force the Cubs to look at other fallback options at third base.

However, intel from Jeff Passan of ESPN offers more optimism for the Cubs and their efforts to land Suárez. Updating his list of the Top 50 trade deadline trade candidates, Passan puts the chances at 90 percent that Suárez will be moved at the deadline.

"Even if the Diamondbacks don't offload all their free agents-to-be, Suárez could be moved because they've got Jordan Lawlar raking in Triple-A and primed to take over at third."

Suárez’s timing might have just boxed the Cubs into a corner

It seems that there is very little that Matt Shaw can do between now and July 31 to take the Cubs out of the market for a third baseman. The Cubs remain committed to Shaw as the long-term answer at third base, but Suárez is a clear upgrade for a team with the hopes of reaching the World Series this season. With Suárez being a free agent after the season, that's only more reason why he is a perfect target for the Cubs ahead of the deadline.

If Suárez isn't an option for the Cubs, either due to the Diamondbacks taking him off the market or the Cubs being outbid, it will be interesting to see how the front office pivots. There isn't a clear starting third baseman available who fits the Cubs' situation, so the team could look to bolster their bench instead of replacing Shaw as a starter at third base.

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