Yankees may be walking into a massive trade-deadline mistake

With the MLB commerce deadline simply weeks away, the New York Yankees’ prolonged seek for a much-needed, but elusive, third baseman ought to be coming to an in depth. Yankee followers will certainly be excited for nearly any information on that entrance, assuming New York acquires a brand new infielder; nevertheless, not each transfer the Yankees are contemplating is worthy of applause.

One goal particularly the Yankees have inquired about in keeping with MLB insider Jon Heyman is Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon. The Yankees confirmed curiosity in McMahon final season as properly, although the Rockies didn’t budge.

McMahon earned his first All-Star look final summer season with a spectacular first-half, however slid dramatically through the second-half, culminating in a slash line of .242/.325/.397 with 20 house runs and 7 outs above common in keeping with Baseball Savant. It wasn’t his finest 12 months however it was nonetheless respectable. Since 2019, McMahon has ranged from 20-24 house runs a 12 months, exterior of the shortened 2020 season.

20 house runs a 12 months, plus protection, common to above common slash line; what’s to not like? Sadly, McMahon is having a 2025 season to neglect, hitting .213/.314/.377 with 12 house runs. As well as, his once-Gold Glove-caliber defensive metrics have been declining yearly since 2021, posting three outs above common this season. 

However that isn’t all.

McMahon has the benefit of hitting within the Mile Excessive Metropolis, the place baseballs often journey removed from house plate. Final season, McMahon’s home-away splits have been very comparable. Nevertheless, over his profession, he has been a significantly better hitter at house; and this season isn’t any exception. Under are his 2025 home-away splits:

The Colorado impact appears to have tremendously influenced his numbers. However wouldn’t his 20+ house run energy make an even bigger distinction in New York given his left-handed bat and the Yankee Stadium brief porch? In accordance with Baseball Savant, this is not so, estimating he would have hit 11 house runs within the Bronx, one lower than his complete up to now this season.

Nonetheless, in the long run, the thought is to make an enchancment. Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman has at all times been frugal, selecting up buy-low candidates at rock-bottom costs even when it meant the enhancements have been merely incremental. 

In his present form, McMahon can be an enchancment over Oswald Peraza, however in a head-to-head comparability with DJ LeMahieu, the declining former batting champion should still have the sting, not less than for this 12 months. In the intervening time, it seems McMahon would solely add to the Yankees’ bottom-of-the-order woes reasonably than remedy them and is subsequently a danger that no contender aiming for a World Collection ought to take.