As the Yankees search for infield upgrades to address their need for either a second baseman or third baseman — Jazz Chisholm Jr. can play either spot — they’ve reached out to the Rockies regarding the potential availability of Ryan McMahon, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. While the Rockies have been unwilling to entertain offers for McMahon in the past, Heyman suggests that they’re willing to listen this time around as they barrel toward a potentially historic loss total in 2025. He adds that New York has yet to contact the D-backs about Eugenio Suarez, though that has more to do with Arizona being within arm’s reach of a Wild Card spot (three games back) than a lack of interest.
McMahon would bring a major upgrade to a Yankees infield that has felt one player short all season. Chisholm has split his time almost evenly between second base (251 innings) and third base (214 innings), performing well with the bat at both spots. He’s hitting .240/.339/.490 on the season and has swatted 14 homers to go along with 10 steals. His 28.2% strikeout rate is up nearly four percentage points over his 2024 levels, but Chisholm’s 11.5% walk rate is far and away a career-high mark.
Chisholm told The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner earlier this week that he knows he’s a better defender at second base and that he’d prefer to be playing there if all else were equal, but he’s happy to do “whatever it takes to help the team win.” A trade for McMahon (or another third baseman) could kill two birds with one stone: solidify the hot corner and get Chisholm back to the position at which he’s most comfortable and best-suited to play.
Earlier this year, it looked as though the Rockies may have missed the boat on trading McMahon. He drew considerable interest in the weeks and months leading into last summer’s trade deadline, but McMahon is reportedly a favorite of Rox owner Dick Monfort, who wasn’t keen on shipping out an All-Star infielder who’s signed affordably through 2027. McMahon wound up falling into a deep slump over the season’s final two months and started the 2025 campaign with the least-productive month of his big league tenure. He entered the month of May hitting just .147/.273/.235 with a sky-high 35.5% strikeout rate.
McMahon homered on May 1, however, and it’s been business as usual for him since. He’s largely back into All-Star form, hitting at a .253/.343/.468 clip with 10 homers, nine doubles and a triple in his past 216 turns at the plate. It should be noted that he’s currently in a bit of a cold spell, with just two hits and 11 strikeouts in his past 23 plate appearances, but nothing so drastic or prolonged as his swoon from August through April (.179/.272/.275, 320 plate appearances). He’s still hitting only .216/.318/.387 on the season because of that disastrous first month, but the trend lines in May and most of June were quite favorable.
On top of his resurgent bat, McMahon has maintained his status as a premium defensive player. Both Defensive Runs Saved (3) and Statcast’s Outs Above Average (3) grade him as a positive in 2025. He’s not on quite the same pace as he was in 4434 innings from 2021-24 (50 DRS, 38 OAA), but McMahon is an unequivocal plus defender at the hot corner who also has ample experience and strong defensive grades at second base.
McMahon’s contract is surely appealing to the Yankees as well. He’s not necessarily a raucous bargain, but the former No. 42 overall draft pick is being paid $12MM this season and is owed $16MM in both 2026 and 2027. The Yankees would pay a 110% tax on his contract’s annual value, given their status as a third-time offender in the top tier of luxury penalization, but McMahon’s six-year, $70MM extension is still well shy of the market rate for a plus defensive third baseman with 25-homer pop.
Heyman also suggests that Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes is at least “on the Yankees’ radar” as a change of scenery candidate, though he’d be a pure project. Hayes is an elite defender whose offensive output has cratered after recurring back troubles have popped up in recent years. He’s playing out an eight-year, $70MM contract signed with Pittsburgh prior to those back troubles surfacing. The Pirates owe him a $7MM salary this season and are on the hook for an additional $36MM over the contract’s final four guaranteed seasons (2026-29).
Hayes is hitting well over the past three weeks (.324/.342/.405 in 76 plate appearances), but it’d be a pretty big leap of faith to expect that to continue, considering the 28-year-old’s composite .239/.289/.297 slash in 714 plate appearances dating back to Opening Day 2024. Still, given the strength of his glove, his above-average speed and solid contact skills, Hayes at least makes sense for infield-needy clubs to track as a long-shot trade candidate.
It just makes sense, which obviously means the Rockies won’t do it.
How could you resist getting that .180/.267/.577 non-Coors slashline into your lineup?
Good thing the yanks play in a little league stadium
If you do no research, you might think that. In actuality, it’s right in the middle of the pack, ranked 16th.
That 16th does increase to 13th for lefty hitters, #4 for LH HR but #23 for overall hits. (Statcast says McMahon would have 12 HR if he played all his games in Yankee Stadium this season, same as his actual output so that’s a wash.)
Hmmm, 9’ deeper to left center, +12’ to center, -2 to right center than Petco. No doubt the RF porch is advantageous though.
I remember when people were saying that DJ LeMahieu couldn’t hit away from Coors Field, and that he would fail with the Yankees. He goes on to hit 26 home runs with the Yankees in 2019, with 19 of those home runs at home.
Everybody hit homers in 2019, that was the juice ball year.
DJ still hit 19 home runs at Yankee Stadium that year compared to his 7 home runs on the road. That short porch in right field definitely played a factor.
Recheck your facts, Tom. Yankee stadium is neutral for an MLB stadium. And it has a larger OF than San Diego………
The Yankees also play in a very favorable stadium for hitters
The Yankees do not play in a favorable stadium for hitters! It’s neutral, and it depends on the hitter’s archetype.
It’s the excessive cheating that helps them do well, the stadium just exists as a place for the fans to throw things at opposing players.
Hayzee, if you think the Yankees are doing well, you must watch some games. They suck.
Your definition of sucking is somewhat biased.
My mother would say comme ci, comme ça.
No…they do not…just more troll stuff
@BBB You misstated his triple slash as OPS is not typically third line, that would be SLG %.
You undercut your own point my misstating his line. Granted, his career road splits are .216/.302/ 361 .
But an excellent defender on the dirt with that short porch makes for intriguing upside.
Better bet than Hays, though either guy would be a decent enough addition (if they don’t cost too much).
paddyo,
Thanks for clarifying. I was wondering about a .577 SLG, which would be excellent and probably worth the low BA and OBP.
GBS, you’re welcome….I too wondered when I saw that .577 too and it was curious and also a bit annoying. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen OPS as third value in triple slash line and it does not make sense.
I guess it’s a question of if McMahons bat is close enough to DJs that you can afford to play him and tighten up the defense and make DJ a contact oriented bench piece. Not like either option is really World Series caliber but I’d prefer to see Jazz at 2nd. Too bad we let Gleyber get away, if I’d known we wouldn’t have a 3B anyway I’d’ve called Cash and told him to re-up with Torres.
Maybe you can give up a prospect of note and get them to take DJ back to keep the money at Hal’s liking and have room to maneuver for higher paid options elsewhere?
I just want a real 3B, 2 relievers of late middle relief, and a depth starter for my deadline-Christmas
This will be fun to watch the Rockies bumble this one.
Josh Donaldson potential here. BTW, Gleyber made the AS team.
now if they would just find a shortstop….
Hopefully Cashman has the stones to go with Lonbard when he’s ready.
Watching Anthony Volpe’s “adventures” this year in the field and at the plate has driven Yankees’ fans who are alcoholics into hard-core alcoholics
No I am not speaking from experience
🙁
Hayes recently visited his chiropractor in Houston to have his back tweaked which explains for his stronger hitting as of late
The Rockies have Kyle Karros to replace Ryan McMahon. Karros should be ready to play for the Rockies in 2026.
If the Rox can get a decent infield prospect and decent bullpen prospect they HAVE to do it.
Anthony Volpe? [sarc]
Rox could prob get 1 top 100 prospect and 1 top 200, and salary relief going forward. But it’s Dick Montfort we’re talking about..
it might be a better option (gamble) to see if NY can get Albies from Atlanta to play 2B and leave Chisolm at 3B
Was hoping that the Mets would trade for McMahon and Bird OR for the Mets to trade for Suarez and Gallen from the D-Backs
Anyone would be an upgrade over Chisholm at third. He’s been pretty awful this year.
This opinion will probably be bood by most…….but the Yankees should SELL this year with an eye to load up for next season.
Forget overpaid aging veterans on the downslide. Rebuild the damn farm! This team is NOT a contender this year.
I’d listen on Goldy, Belli, Volpe, Grish, Weaver, D Williams & Leiter.
Do anything they can do dump some of the money owed to DJ and Stanton.
Agree. Fire sale time Cashman. Team needs a refresh.
Totally agree….
McMahon is a CAREER .216 hitter away from Coors Field and just .240 overall. Absolute PASS for me.
Put Jazz back at 2B where he is MUCH better and let snow shoes DJ play 3B. Enough coddling to what DJ wants…..he’s lucky to still have a dang roster spot!