Former NY Mets player is a competent Eugenio Suarez consolation prize for the Yankees

A player who got his start with the New York Mets might be the solution to the third base problem of their crosstown rivals -- the New York Yankees. When he signed with the Yankees as an international free agent in 2016, Oswald Peraza made noise in the team's farm system, climbing the ranks to eventually become a top-three prospect in the Yankees' system and a top-50 prospect in all of baseball, receiving acclaim for his bat-to-ball ability as well as speed and aggressiveness on the basepath. Four years into his MLB tenure, it hasn't worked out well for Peraza, as he has slashed just .188/.262/.284 in 143 career games, fluctuating between the major and minor leagues while struggling to find consistent success.

The Yankees are looking for a third base upgrade at the deadline, even if it's just a guy in a temporary role that can contribute in the postseason race. It's unsustainable for them to continue platooning Peraza and Jorbit Vivas, who is slashing just .164/.270/.255. Eugenio Suarez is a name that's been linked to the Yankees; he's having a monster age-34 season, slashing .252/.325/.593 with 36 home runs and 86 RBI.

The problem with Suarez, however, is that his price will be high. Arizona is going to want a lot in return for the veteran, and considering his expiring contract, it might not be worth the risk of potentially having to give up significant pieces, such as top prospects, for a rental.

That's where former Met Amed Rosario comes into play; he's a significantly cheaper option who is also a major upgrade over the Yankees' current situation at third.

A former top-rated prospect, Rosario found himself ranked as high as the number-two prospect in baseball in 2017 as a member of the Mets' organization. While he didn't exactly play up to the hype, he's had himself a solid career as a journeyman, playing with the Mets, Guardians, Dodgers, Reds, and now the Nationals. Mets fans will always look back on him fondly, as he was a major piece in the trade with Cleveland that landed them Francisco Lindor.

Rosario is having a solid age-29 season with the Nationals, slashing .270/.310/.426 in 47 games. The real eye-catcher, as Heyman mentioned, is his splits against lefties, slashing .299/.333/.483. Rosario is no star, but he provides the consistency the Yankees need at third base, especially when their current platoon has a combined OPS of .485. He's also on a one-year deal, making it easy for the Yankees to dump him after the season and explore long-term options at third.

Additionally, the Yankees happen to be one of the best offensive teams in the league. They lead MLB with a .787 team OPS and are third in runs with 530. The third base hole is one they need to fill, but they don't need to give up the farm for a star-caliber player when their bats are already among baseball's best.

If this hypothetical trade becomes a reality, it would be Rosario's biggest role since 2022, a year in which he was the Guardians' starting shortstop and made the only postseason appearances of his career. Since then, he's mainly been a utility man that's come off the bench. In this situation, he would likely be the Yankees' primary third baseman down the stretch as they look to compete and make a run in the postseason.