Ryan McMahon brings elite defense and untapped potential to the Bronx

The first domino has fallen for the Yankees six days before the trade deadline on July 31st at 6 p.m. ET. They acquired elite defensive third baseman 2024 All-Star Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies with a left-handed swing that is tailor-made for Yankee Stadium. "We're excited to get him," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said regarding McMahon.

"You know, he’s been an all-star third baseman, really good defender," Boone added. "You know, he has had some ups and downs offensively this year. Really feel like, you know, I know over the last month, he's really swinging the bat well, but he's a presence, and, can really defend over there at third and has for a number of years. So we're excited to get him. I haven't talked to him yet. I'm trying to get a hold of him right now as it's just kind of become official." 

The Yankees sent back two prospects in exchange for McMahon, Griffin Herring, and Josh Grosz. Herring was the Yankees' No. 8 prospect, a left-handed pitcher in high A. Grosz is a right-handed pitcher and was the Yankees' No. 21 prospect in high A as well. 

As for McMahon, he is under team control through 2027, and the Yankees will be paying the remainder of his contract, which is valued at $36.5 million. McMahon has never had an offensive season above league average, wRC+ wise, with league average being 100; his best season has been a 97 wRC+.

McMahon never having a season above league average is concerning to some.  However, DJ LeMahieu had only had one above-average offensive season before the Yankees acquired him prior to the 2019 season, and he went on to finish fourth in MVP voting in 2019 and third in MVP voting in the shortened 2020 COVID-19 year. 

Some people are also concerned about his offensive production away from Coors Field in Colorado, which is known as being the easiest ballpark in baseball to hit in. This was also a concern with DJ; in fact, McMahon and DJ’s home and away splits were very similar: 

DJ LeMahieu home/road splits with Rockies: .834 OPS Home / .681 OPS Road

Ryan McMahon home/road splits with Rockies: .818 OPS Home / .664 OPS Road

McMahon should benefit from having more protection in the lineup, as he was consistently hitting fourth for the Rockies with just about no protection outside of 2016 No. 1 overall draft pick Mickey Moniak and All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman. Now, McMahon will most likely hit sixth or seventh for the Yankees, plus he should benefit from the extra information the Yankees' analytical department will provide in hitters' meetings. Foul Territory had a great podcast a couple of weeks ago, around the time DJ was DFAed, about how far behind the Rockies are analytically.

Now, for the best part about McMahon, his defense is elite, as he grades out as the second-best defensive third baseman in the MLB, behind only Ke'Bryan Hayes of the Pirates, according to FanGraphs. McMahon has a 4 DRS, 4 OAA, and a 3 FRV, which is suitable for a 5.9 defensive WAR, the second-best among all third basemen in baseball.  Compared to Eugenio Suárez, the guy most Yankees fans wanted for third base is the worst decisive third baseman in baseball with a -4 DRS, -6 OAA, and a -5 FRV, which comes out to a -1.9 defensive WAR. 

"The handful of times that we've played against them that I watch him, you're like, 'That's what it should look like over there,’”  Boone said. 

My thoughts on the trade: I personally love the trade. McMahon was the guy I wanted the Yankees to get all along for third base. I know most Yankees fans wanted Suárez, but his defense and price tag for a two-month rental just didn't seem worth it to me. Additionally, when comparing McMahon's Baseball Savant page to Suarez's, McMahon's page appears to be more visually appealing.  McMahon seems like a low-risk, high-reward kind of move who plays Gold Glove defense, which the Yankees desperately need at third base. The home and away split scares me a little bit, but I think he will also benefit from playing in a lineup where he isn't expected to be the guy as much as he was on the Rockies, similar to Jazz Chisholm Jr. last year. I also believe he will be more motivated than ever to perform, as he is in a playoff run for the first time in his career.