The Yankees trading for a third baseman on Friday afternoon was hardly a deadline stunner. Of all the playoff contenders, none had a more glaring problem to fix than this widening sinkhole in the Bronx.
That it turned out to be Ryan McMahon rather than a bigger-impact bat like Eugenio Suarez is probably mildly surprising, only because general manager Brian Cashman typically has a preference for the bashers — who he fondly describes as “big, hairy monsters” — and the 36-homer Suarez certainly fit that mold.
But here’s why McMahon is perfectly fine, if not the big splash some were hoping for: the Yankees instantly are much better than the humiliated crew that got its butt kicked again by the Blue Jays earlier in the week, and by importing McMahon at the start of this homestand, Cashman’s quick strike also provides the conversation-changer Aaron Boone’s butterfinger bunch desperately needed.
The Yankees took the layup, emboldened by the fact that the bar was so low at third base, virtually anyone would be an upgrade. The current stats don’t tell the whole story, either, as the Yankees’ .645 OPS at the position — which ranks 23 in the majors — even includes Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s post-IL surge before being permanently switched to second base. So what it basically comes down to is McMahon vs. Oswald Peraza, who entered Friday hitting .147 with a .446 OPS in 69 games.
Yes, McMahon’s mile-high Coors Field splits are worrisome for a full-time switch to sea level (career .818 OPS at home/.664 away), but a change of scenery could benefit him on a few fronts. As a lefty hitter, he’s got the short rightfield porch now, and let’s not discount the fact McMahon was just rescued from one of the sorriest organizations in baseball. The Rockies haven’t had a winning record since 2018 — McMahon’s sophomore year — and currently are on pace to break the single-season mark for losses (121), just established by the 2024 White Sox.
That’s more than a scenery swap. It’s a new lease on his baseball life, and putting on the pinstripes for a playoff chase often has a tangible impact — positively for players that can handle the pressure (Sonny Gray a notable exception).
McMahon isn’t being brought here as a savior, however. Just a guy that can play solid defense — something that’s been in very short supply for the Yankees lately — and give them a measurable uptick offensively from the third-base spot.
Despite the Yankees’ snowballing problems of late, run production hasn’t been one of them, which partly explains why Cashman was able to resist emptying out higher-value prospects in what figures to be a very competitive pursuit of Suarez.
Before Friday, the Yankees’ .787 OPS was tops in MLB and their 530 runs led the American League. Also, by holding onto their most coveted trade chips, Cashman still has plenty in his pocket to go after high-leverage relievers and maybe another starter, items that remain on his agenda.
Offensively, McMahon’s numbers don’t exactly jump off the page, to put it mildly. Even with the Coors boost, he’s a .240 career hitter that averages 20-plus homers with a .743 OPS. One promising trend: McMahon is on a bit of a tear lately, hitting 10 home runs with an .819 OPS over his last 39 games. With the trade deadline looming, maybe he was seeing the light at the end of the Rockies’ tunnel.
“Really good defender,” Boone said before the Yankees opened a three-game set against the Phillies on Friday night at the Stadium. “Has had some ups and downs offensively this year. But I know over the last month, he’s really swinging the bat well. He’s a presence and can really defend over there at third and has for a number of years.”
Notice the theme here. Boone couldn’t mention McMahon’s glove enough in his opening statements on the trade, as he’s probably still traumatized by watching the Yankees kick the baseball around Rogers Centre earlier this week. McMahon should put his mind at ease as soon as the manager writes him in the lineup card (presumably Saturday) but the new addition is not a cure-all for what’s been ailing the Yankees recently.
Among the most pressing concerns is Anthony Volpe’s spiraling performance, as the 24-year-old shortstop has struggled on both sides of the ball. While Volpe seems to fit the profile of a floundering youngster begging for a Triple-A repair — i.e. what the Mets just did with Francisco Alvarez, with an immediate payoff — the Yankees don’t have anyone to plug the spot. Instead, they can only hope that McMahon’s defensive upgrade will help put Volpe more at ease in fortifying the previously shoddy left side of the infield.
“We need them to play the way they’re capable of playing,” Boone said. “And if they do, that becomes a strength.”
The Yankees clearly wanted to leave the whole criminally-negligent glovework narrative back in Toronto. Shortly after trading for McMahon, Boone posted a lineup for Friday’s game against the Phillies that featured his best defensive outfield (Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Aaron Judge) and Paul Goldschmidt, the four-time Gold Glover, at first base.
Boone has spent way too much time this season defending his sub-par defenders. Now with McMahon on board, the Yankees hope to turn the volume down on the noise that has haunted them since last October. Whether McMahon helps them get back to the World Series, or gives Cashman buyer’s remorse for passing on Suarez, remains to be seen.
