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 needs to be coming to a detailed. Yankee followers will certainly be excited for almost 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 specifically the Yankees have inquired about in accordance with MLB insider Jon Heyman is Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon. The Yankees confirmed curiosity in McMahon final season as nicely, although the Rockies didn’t budge.

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

20 dwelling runs a yr, 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 dwelling 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 continuously journey removed from dwelling plate. Final season, McMahon’s home-away splits have been very related. Nevertheless, over his profession, he has been a a lot better hitter at dwelling; and this season isn’t any exception. Beneath are his 2025 home-away splits:

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

Nonetheless, in the long run, the concept is to make an enchancment. Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman has all the time 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 could 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, at the very least for this yr. In the intervening time, it seems McMahon would solely add to the Yankees’ bottom-of-the-order woes moderately than clear up them and is subsequently a threat that no contender aiming for a World Collection ought to take.