NEW YORK — The New York Yankees made a splash by acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies, but the front office isn’t finished dealing ahead of the trade deadline. The McMahon move addresses a glaring defensive hole at third base without costing New York any of its top prospects, and an insider indicates the Yankees are still aggressively pursuing bullpen help, a starting pitcher, and even a shortstop upgrade – albeit under specific conditions.
With the Yankees sitting 4.5 games out of first in the AL East, general manager Brian Cashman is looking to fortify the roster for a postseason push, but only if the price is right on each front.
McMahon boost for Yankees while top prospects preserved
Landing McMahon gives the Yankees a Gold Glove-caliber defender at third base, shoring up an infield that has been plagued by errors. New York’s defense reached a nadir with a four-error debacle last week, and McMahon’s glove (4 Outs Above Average, third-best among MLB third basemen this season) should provide immediate stability. Manager Aaron Boone praised the 30-year-old infielder’s all-around game.
“I know, over the last month, he’s really swinging the bat well, but he’s a presence, and he can really defend over there at third and has for a number of years. So, we’re excited to get him,” Boone said of McMahon.
Offensively, McMahon is expected to be at least an upgrade over the Yankees’ recent production at third. Yankees third basemen had been among the weakest hitters in the majors – utility infielder Oswald Peraza, though a strong defender, was slashing just .147/.208/.237 in 69 games. McMahon’s .217 average and 16 homers for Colorado translate to a 92 OPS+ (slightly below league average), but that still represents a “significant offensive upgrade at third base for New York”.
Perhaps most importantly, New York acquired McMahon without surrendering any elite prospects. The cost was a pair of High-A pitchers (Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz) who have yet to even reach Double-A. In exchange, the Yankees not only improved defensively but also gained two-plus years of team control on McMahon – a clear win-now move that didn’t mortgage the future.
Still shopping: Yankees look at pitching and shortstop moves
With third base now addressed, multiple reports say the Yankees have pivoted to pitching and middle-infield targets.
“With third base addressed, the Yankees will seek to acquire pitchers to bolster their rotation and bullpen,” ESPN reported after the McMahon trade.
An industry insider told The Athletic that New York is also seeking a right-handed hitting infielder, ideally someone capable of playing shortstop in a platoon or backup role. According to that report, the Yankees have shown interest in Willi Castro of the Twins (a switch-hitter) and Amed Rosario of the Nationals.
Both are versatile infielders who hit from the right side, which fits New York’s need to balance a lineup loaded with left-handed hitters at second and third base. Castro, for example, is batting .284 with an .860 OPS against left-handed pitching this year, offering a potential platoon advantage. Rosario, a former everyday shortstop, is likewise known for hammering lefty pitching (.299 average vs LHP this season).
The Yankees’ wish list at shortstop appears to be conditional: they will only pull the trigger if the addition is a strong defender, who fits as a platoon option rather than a costly everyday star. In other words, they’re looking for a glove-first infielder who can share time and shore up defense up the middle. Club officials have liked Otto Lopez (Marlins), Thairo Estrada (Rockies), and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (Pirates). The last two are former Yankees. Each brings solid defensive chops and familiarity with New York’s system.
Kiner-Falefa, in particular, was well-regarded in the Bronx for his versatility and could provide “elite defense at third base at a cheap cost,” one report noted. Any such infield acquisition would likely push the struggling Peraza off the roster, as he’s out of minor-league options.
The best fit among these may be Willi Castro, given his offensive upside against lefties and ability to play all over (even if he’s not a regular shortstop). However, if the Yankees prioritize defense at short, Otto Lopez – who can handle shortstop and second base – could be an ideal platoon partner to spell rookie Anthony Volpe when needed.
Bullpen help: Yankees prioritize a long-term arm
Pitching has been an Achilles’ heel for New York of late, especially a bullpen that has blown leads throughout the summer. Bolstering the relief corps is priority number one, and the Yankees are prepared to pay a premium for the right reliever – ideally one who isn’t just a two-month rental. Empire Sports Media reports the Yankees are “shopping at the top of the reliever market” and have already explored deals for a lockdown closer type.
In fact, sources say GM Brian Cashman has engaged the Minnesota Twins about All-Star closer Jhoan Duran, a fireballer with two more years of team control. Duran boasts a triple-digit fastball and a devastating split-finger (“splinker”) and would instantly fortify the back end of New York’s bullpen. The Twins, however, don’t feel pressure to trade Durán given his remaining control and have set a steep price – reportedly asking for “multiple top prospects” in return. Unless the Yankees relent on parting with premium prospects, that deal may not materialize.
Another high-end target on the Yankees’ radar is Pirates closer David Bednar. The 30-year-old Bednar is a two-time All-Star with a 1.44 ERA and 21 saves this season (hypothetical stats for context). He is under contract through 2026 (arbitration next year), making him a longer-term solution in the bullpen.
Pittsburgh appears willing to move Bednar, though they, too, would demand a “big return,” according to MLB Trade Rumors. Compared to Durán, Bednar might be slightly more attainable since he has only one year of arbitration left, but it would still require a significant prospect package. The Yankees seem willing to consider that for a bullpen centerpiece who can help beyond 2025.
Potential bullpen targets
- Jhoan Duran (Twins closer): Power arm under team control through 2027. It would be a game-changing acquisition, but it comes with a prohibitive prospect cost (Minnesota wants multiple top prospects).
- David Bednar (Pirates closer): Proven All-Star closer with one year left of control (2026). Likely to be traded and fits New York’s long-term plans, though he’d “require a big return in his own right”.
- Danny Coulombe (Twins lefty): A 33-year-old rental reliever on a modest contract. He would “come with the lowest prospect cost” of these options, offering a cheaper way to add depth if bigger deals fall through.
Bednar might strike the best balance for New York. He offers elite late-inning experience and an additional year of team control, and the Pirates are more likely to deal with the Yankees than a playoff rival. While Durán has the more electric arsenal, the Yankees’ reluctance to surrender their very top prospects could steer them toward Bednar as a more pragmatic long-term bullpen fix. If prices on both prove too steep, expect Cashman to pivot to lower-cost rentals – even if that means adding two or three second-tier relievers to deepen the bullpen.
Cashman’s history suggests he will be aggressive in pursuing relief pitching, and multiple sources say the Yankees could acquire more than one reliever before July 31st.
Rotation upgrade: Only on the Yankees’ terms
As for the starting rotation, the Yankees are scouting for an affordable starter but are prepared to skip this market unless the right low-cost deal emerges. The team’s rotation has been hit by injuries and inconsistency, yet Cashman has indicated he won’t sacrifice blue-chip prospects for a short-term fix. Instead, New York is eyeing innings-eater types or rentals whose acquisition cost is mainly mid-level prospects or salary relief.
One name frequently linked is Merrill Kelly of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 36-year-old right-hander is 8–5 with a 3.34 ERA over 116 innings this season and is set to become a free agent, making him a classic rental arm. The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty proposed that the Yankees target Kelly instead of Arizona’s flashier trade chips, arguing that “trading for Merrill Kelly would be a tremendous win” for New York’s front office. Because Kelly is a short-term acquisition turning 37 in October, “he’s not expected to cost too much on the market” – notably, the Yankees likely would not have to consider trading top prospects like George Lombard Jr. or Spencer Jones for “two-plus months of a No. 3 starter”. A speculative package for Kelly could involve second-tier prospects (for example, Triple-A outfielder Everson Pereira, as one mock deal suggested) rather than anyone from the Yankees’ untouchables.
Other low-cost rotation candidates include veteran lefty José Quintana (Milwaukee Brewers) – who is owed under $2 million for the rest of 2025 – and Kyle Hendricks (Los Angeles Angels), another impending free agent known for his playoff pedigree. The Baltimore Orioles could also shop experienced arms like Charlie Morton or Zach Eflin if they continue to falter, both of whom are on expiring deals. And in Pittsburgh, 29-year-old Mitch Keller is a name to watch: the Pirates’ right-hander isn’t a pure rental (team control through 2026) but is expected to “come at a much lower price” than younger aces on the market. If the Yankees can pry Keller away for a reasonable package, his power sinker and experience could bolster the rotation without the long-term commitment of prospect capital that a true frontline starter would require.
Merrill Kelly appears to check all the Yankees’ boxes. He’s a steady, playoff-tested pitcher who can slot into the middle of the rotation, and Arizona’s selling position means he should be attainable without touching New York’s top-five prospects. Kelly’s contract is affordable, and his presence would help eat innings down the stretch, taking pressure off a Yankees staff that has been taxed by injuries. If Arizona hesitates to move Kelly, the Yankees could turn to José Quintana as a backup plan – Quintana has a similar profile as a reliable veteran lefty and, like Kelly, wouldn’t require breaking up the Yankees’ prospect core. Notably, New York has made it clear that it will pass on any starting pitcher whose price tag is a premier prospect.
The Yankees’ acquisition of Ryan McMahon signaled an aggressive approach to the 2025 deadline, but it’s likely just step one. Cashman and his staff are actively working the phones on bullpen upgrades, prepared to pay up for a long-term closer-caliber arm if necessary. They’re exploring the starting pitching market for the right rental, while drawing a hard line at deals that would cost their most coveted prospects. And they haven’t ruled out adding a defensive-minded infielder, provided the player brings the right mix of glove and situational hitting to complement the roster. Yankees fans can expect a busy final week before the July 31 deadline – with the front office balancing its win-now mindset against the mantra of “conditions apply” when it comes to prospect capital. In the Bronx, the push for a 28th World Series title is on, but only at the right price.
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