Yankees’ offseason rebuild seen in play to trade $18M ‘luxury piece’
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Follow UsNEW YORK — The Yankees may already be preparing to move on from one of their newest acquisitions. After landing Ryan McMahon at the trade deadline, insiders now believe New York could flip him just months later as part of a wider roster reset.
The Gold Glove-nominated third baseman carries an $18 million salary over the next two seasons, a figure that could limit the Yankees’ financial flexibility as they reshape their roster for 2026.
Questions grow around McMahon’s fit in New York
Media voices close to the organization have started questioning whether McMahon truly fits the Yankees’ long-term plans. His defensive excellence has never been in doubt, but his offensive production since joining the team has raised red flags. In 54 games with the Yankees, McMahon hit just .208 with four home runs and 18 RBIs — far below what New York expected when they acquired him from Colorado.
The Yankees took on the remainder of McMahon’s deal, which includes $16 million for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons. When the team traded pitching prospects Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz to the Rockies on July 25, the move appeared to be a fix for their revolving door at third base. Three months later, however, McMahon’s production has not matched his contract value.
“Talkin’ Yanks” podcast host Jake Storiale addressed the growing speculation about McMahon’s future during a recent episode. When asked about the possibility of a trade, Storiale didn’t hold back.
“It’s in play,” he said, noting that McMahon’s name has become part of offseason trade chatter inside Yankees circles.
The financial math doesn’t add up
The Yankees’ payroll situation makes McMahon’s contract even harder to justify. As repeat luxury tax offenders, the team pays a 110 percent tax on each dollar spent above the threshold. That turns McMahon’s $16 million salary into an even larger financial hit for a player struggling to contribute offensively.
Storiale summed it up bluntly, calling McMahon “a luxury the Yankees can’t afford.” While his glove remains elite, his lack of offense clashes with the team’s evolving lineup philosophy centered on power and contact balance.
“I don’t know if there’s more in there, but $16 million for a third baseman that definitely has the glove and you’re not sure what you have with the bat, but he doesn’t fit this current Yankee,” Storiale said on the show. “He is a luxury piece and the Yankees currently don’t operate in luxury pieces.”
His comments quickly spread across social media after Talkin’ Yanks shared a clip on X, formerly Twitter, fueling further speculation that McMahon could be traded before spring training.
Yankees bullpen needs take priority
The Yankees’ front office faces tough choices this offseason. Their bullpen collapsed late in the 2025 season, exposing one of the team’s biggest weaknesses. Rebuilding that relief unit has become a top priority, and freeing up McMahon’s $18 million could help fund multiple upgrades.
Trading McMahon would also create luxury tax space, giving the Yankees room to maneuver under baseball’s financial penalties. With large contracts already committed to Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge, Carlos Rodon, and Max Fried, every dollar counts.
General manager Brian Cashman’s offseason blueprint emphasizes resource efficiency. That means moving costly players who don’t fill a critical need. An expensive defensive specialist with declining offensive numbers doesn’t align with those goals.
Despite his offensive slide, McMahon still carries trade value. Gold Glove-caliber defenders remain in demand, especially for contenders needing stability at third base. His contract runs through 2027, providing cost certainty that some clubs may find appealing. The Yankees could also recover mid-level prospects or salary relief by dealing him.
His Rockies success now feels distant
McMahon’s struggles in New York contrast sharply with his peak years in Colorado. The 2023 All-Star built his reputation as one of baseball’s best defensive third basemen while averaging more than 20 home runs per season for four straight years at Coors Field. His combination of power and defense earned him four consecutive Gold Glove finalist nods and a reputation as a steady presence on both sides of the ball.
Those results have yet to appear in pinstripes. Before the trade, McMahon was already struggling, hitting .217 with 127 strikeouts in 100 games for the Rockies. The Yankees hoped that a new environment — and shorter right-field porch — would spark his bat. Instead, his issues at the plate worsened in New York, and his power all but disappeared.
The adjustment to playing in the Bronx, with higher expectations and constant scrutiny, may have contributed to his slump. His strikeout rate stayed high while his ability to drive the ball diminished.
Manager Aaron Boone initially defended the move to acquire McMahon, citing his defensive reliability and veteran leadership. “He’s one of the best gloves in the league,” Boone said at the time, though he also acknowledged McMahon needed to “find some rhythm offensively” to reach his potential with the Yankees.
The experiment reaches a crossroads
The Yankees gave McMahon every chance to stabilize third base after Jazz Chisholm shifted to second. New York cycled through seven different players at third during the first half of 2025 before acquiring McMahon to bring consistency.
He started strong, hitting .400 during his first week with the Yankees and even delivering a walk-off single against Tampa Bay. But the hot start quickly faded, and his average plummeted through August and September.
As the offseason begins, the Yankees must decide whether McMahon’s elite defense is enough to justify his salary. Trading him would admit that the midseason gamble failed. Keeping him, however, would tie up money they could use elsewhere — particularly in the bullpen and bench depth.
The market for third basemen may determine his fate. Several contenders — including the Giants, Mariners, and Cubs — could use a defensive upgrade at the hot corner. If one of those teams agrees to take on part or all of McMahon’s salary, the Yankees could quickly move him. If not, they might be stuck carrying the contract through 2027.
A defining offseason ahead
The Yankees’ front office has made clear that complacency is not an option after another season that fell short of expectations. Every roster spot and salary commitment is under review. McMahon’s case highlights the difficult balance between maintaining defensive excellence and ensuring offensive productivity.
With pressure mounting on Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone to deliver results, moving McMahon could be one of the earliest steps in what looks like a busy winter. The decision will signal how aggressively the Yankees intend to reshape their roster — and whether they’re ready to cut ties with players who no longer fit the mold of a championship contender.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
I have to laugh they love his defense but he doesn’t fit the teams power and contact balance. How many contact hitters to they have. Management is becoming a joke!