Phillies among the potential fits for Diamondbacks’ Eugenio Suárez

NEW YORK — Less than a week before the trade deadline, there are two types of conversations between teams: exploratory and substantive. This might still fall into the first category.

But the Phillies have talked to the Diamondbacks about Eugenio Suárez.

It wouldn’t be the cleanest fit. Suárez is a third baseman, and although Alec Bohm is out with a fractured left rib, the Phillies expect him to return next month. Trading for Suárez, then, eventually would require an undesirable countermove, such as putting Kyle Schwarber back in left field.

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The Phillies would have to decide if the offensive bump from adding Suárez, tied with Schwarber for second in the National League with 36 home runs through Friday, would outweigh weakening the outfield defense. Suárez, eligible for free agency after the season, could also provide right-handed protection for Bryce Harper in the middle of the order.

Until the last few days, it was unclear if the Diamondbacks actually would be a seller. But getting swept at home this week by the Astros dulled their hopes at climbing back into the wild-card mix, and they traded first baseman Josh Naylor to the Mariners on Thursday.

Suárez, 34, is desirable to several teams. Seattle reportedly is interested in getting Suárez and Naylor back together on the corners of the infield. The Reds could seek a reunion with Suárez, who spent seven seasons in Cincinnati.

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But the Diamondbacks were among the teams that had a scout at triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday night to watch Mick Abel. The right-hander, who made his major league debut in May, allowed five runs on seven hits in five innings against Norfolk.

Schwarber has been primarily a designated hitter for the last two seasons. He has made only six starts in left field, two since May 4. The Phillies haven’t been giving him extra work in the outfield before games, a sign that a move to left field isn’t imminent.

Bohm went on the injured list July 19 after reaggravating his rib on a swing the night before. He’s expected to miss at least three weeks, although he will join the Phillies here Sunday and travel with the team to Chicago to continue his treatment, according to manager Rob Thomson.

The Phillies’ top priority before Thursday’s 6 p.m. deadline is still believed to be help for the bullpen.

Nick Castellanos wasn’t in the lineup after jamming his left knee while leaping to haul in a fly ball to right field for the final out Friday night.

The Phillies were mostly unconcerned, Thomson said. But Castellanos reported soreness when he arrived at Yankee Stadium and was held out of the lineup.

In Castellanos’ absence, Max Kepler moved from left field to right, Brandon Marsh from center to left, and Johan Rojas started in center field against Yankees righty Marcus Stroman.

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Castellanos, who started all 162 games last season, has started all but two this year. He was benched June 17 in Miami when he made what Thomson described as an “inappropriate comment” after being replaced for defense.

But the Yankees had an even more notable absence: Aaron Judge.

Judge, tied for second in the majors with 37 homers, went on the injured list with a flexor strain in his right elbow but no ligament damage, according to the Yankees. Manager Aaron Boone was hopeful that Judge could return after 10 days, initially in a DH role.

Aaron Nola’s road back to the Phillies’ starting rotation will begin Thursday in Worcester, Mass.

Nola, sidelined since mid-May with ankle and rib injuries, is scheduled to throw 55-60 pitches in his first start of an assignment with triple-A Lehigh Valley. The Phillies plan to increase his workload by about 15 pitches per start until he reaches about 90 pitches.

It’s likely, then, that Nola will be ready to rejoin the Phillies in about three weeks. He went on the injured list May 16 with a sprained right ankle before missing additional time with a stress fracture in his rib cage on the right side.

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The Phillies will continue with Taijuan Walker as the fill-in fifth starter until Nola returns. Walker, who gave up three solo homers in 5⅔ innings of Friday night’s 12-5 victory, said he’s maintaining the routine he’d been using as a reliever, notably throwing from 140 feet on flat ground each day instead of between-starts bullpen sessions.

“Aaron’s coming back at some point, so I assume that I’ll be the odd man out, which is fine,” Walker said. “I built a pretty good routine. My job is just to go out there and pitch and get outs.”

The Phillies acquired outfielder Brewer Hicklen from the Tigers for cash. Hicklen, 29, is 2-for-12 in 10 major league games since 2022. To open a spot on the 40-man roster, right-hander Ryan Cusick was designated for assignment. … Zack Wheeler (9-3, 2.39 ERA) is scheduled to start at 1:35 p.m. Sunday against Yankees lefty Carlos Rodón (10-7, 3.10).