NEW YORK — The New York Yankees are discussing Ryan McMahon with the kind of language typically reserved for promising young players still developing their skills, not a 31-year-old veteran preparing for his 10th major league campaign.
That perspective reveals why the Yankees think their deadline trade acquisition from Colorado can evolve beyond being simply a defense-first third baseman wearing pinstripes.
“I think now with us getting the full spring training with him, a winter working with him, maybe we can unlock some things,” general manager Brian Cashman said this week when discussing McMahon’s offensive potential.
Manager Aaron Boone shared similar enthusiasm at the Winter Meetings.
“I feel like there’s a real two-way player in there,” Boone said. “And hopefully we can help him make little adjustments here that unlock all that.”
The Yankees have traveled this path previously. Mike Tauchman and DJ LeMahieu both came from Colorado without significant expectations and delivered career-best performances in New York. McMahon presents a different case with a tougher challenge ahead, but the Yankees think the foundation for a late-career offensive improvement already exists.
Why the Yankees believe there is more in McMahon’s bat
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McMahon’s career statistics don’t suggest an obvious breakout story. He has appeared in over 1,000 games spanning nine seasons without posting an above-average OPS in any single year. Throughout baseball, players carrying that extended track record are generally viewed as established commodities.
The Yankees interpret the situation differently.
RYAN MCMAHON HAS HIS FIRST PAIR OF RBIS WITH THE YANKEES!
They recognize elite raw strength, unusual plate discipline for someone with high strikeout totals, and athletic ability that remains effective on offense and defense. They also identify a swing pattern that, from their evaluation, generates avoidable complications.
“He and our hitting guys have really had some good conversations as he’s starting in to our hitting program now this winter,” Boone said. “He’s a tremendous athlete, real power. Feel like knows the strike zone pretty well.
“There’s some things he does in his swing that get him in trouble a little bit, but it would not surprise me at all to see him go to a different level offensively.”
For the Yankees, this conviction stems from analytical evidence rather than wishful thinking.
A rare strikeout profile that stands out
McMahon’s most significant weakness cannot be overlooked. No qualified batter swung and missed more frequently in 2025.
His strikeout percentage reached 32.3 percent, leading all major leaguers. That single statistic explains why his offensive production has trailed his physical capabilities.
What separates McMahon from typical high-strikeout hitters is the pattern behind those punchouts.
He rarely chases pitches outside the zone. His walk percentage last season stood at 12 percent, ranking 24th across baseball and placing him alongside Bryce Harper and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He regularly refuses to offer at balls beyond the strike zone.
When McMahon does swing, though, he whiffs at an extraordinary frequency. His swing-and-miss rate on pitches within the strike zone reached 25.2 percent, second worst in the majors. On offerings outside the zone, his 62.3 percent whiff percentage ranked dead last.
That pairing frustrates talent evaluators while simultaneously capturing the Yankees’ interest. Plate discipline typically deteriorates as players age. McMahon’s has stayed consistent. The Yankees believe mechanical corrections, not visual recognition or strategic approach, hold the answer.
Power that already plays at an elite level
McMahon’s batted-ball metrics provide the Yankees with optimism despite his strikeout issues. He has reached at least 20 home runs across six different seasons without requiring perfect swing mechanics to make hard contact.
His average exit velocity last season measured 93.3 mph. That placed ninth throughout the majors, positioned between Rafael Devers and Fernando Tatis Jr. Very few hitters who make contact that hard struggle to generate offensive value, and fewer still combine that power with strong patience.
For the Yankees, the objective isn’t transforming McMahon into a batting title contender. The goal centers on helping him connect more often on pitches he already selects wisely.
Even a moderate decrease in missed swings could reshape his entire season output.
Defense that already plays in October
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While the Yankees focus on offensive improvements, McMahon’s defensive contributions have already delivered returns.
“He was one of the productive players in our postseason run this year on both sides of the ball,” Cashman said. “Certainly makes our pitching staff better, especially when you have ground-ball guys like Max Fried and Carlos Rodón and all those ground balls going to that side of the field.
“I think he was a good get. But are there areas to improve upon? Sure. And we look forward to seeing if we can.”
McMahon’s third base defense ranked among baseball’s finest again in 2025. His range, arm accuracy, and anticipation strengthened the left side of the Yankees infield throughout the playoff push.
His October offensive performance impressed as well, posting an .833 OPS while making a spectacular catch that sent him tumbling into the Red Sox dugout during the wild-card clincher.
For the Yankees, that postseason showing reinforced their assessment that McMahon’s abilities can still produce under high-stakes conditions.
A platoon path that could sharpen results
Another consideration involves playing time distribution.
McMahon swings from the left side and has spent most of his career receiving everyday at-bats in Colorado. The numbers reveal a distinct difference between matchups. He carries a career .763 OPS facing right-handed pitchers and a .676 OPS against left-handers.
The Yankees are willing to limit his exposure against challenging lefties. Splitting time with a right-handed option like Amed Rosario or Miguel Andujar could keep McMahon facing favorable matchups while maintaining his defensive presence in late innings.
This wouldn’t constitute a demotion. It represents a strategic efficiency move, one the Yankees have implemented successfully before.
The Yankees’ track record with Rockies hitters
McMahon’s addition naturally draws comparisons to LeMahieu and Tauchman, two players whose careers accelerated after departing Colorado.
The Yankees avoid guaranteeing identical outcomes. Still, they believe the organization’s hitting development system provides McMahon an enhanced opportunity to maximize his existing strengths.
James Rowson and the Yankees’ hitting coaches have emphasized swing decisions, contact quality, and pitch coverage. McMahon’s discipline indicates he can adjust. The Yankees view the swing mechanics as the remaining challenge.
“I think there’s a lot more in there offensively than we saw from Mac,” Boone said.
That conviction, combined with elite defense and proven October performance, explains why the Yankees are approaching a veteran player as a development opportunity worth pursuing.
The Yankees aren’t expecting overnight transformation. They recognize McMahon has established patterns built over nearly a decade of major league experience. But they see specific areas where targeted adjustments could yield meaningful improvements.
His ability to recognize pitches and lay off balls gives him a foundation most high-strikeout hitters lack. His raw power ensures that contact produces results. His defensive excellence provides immediate value regardless of offensive progress.
Whether the Yankees can help McMahon reduce his swing-and-miss issues remains uncertain. What seems clear is their commitment to trying. They acquired him believing untapped potential exists. Now they have a full offseason and spring training to prove that belief correct.
For McMahon, the opportunity represents a fresh start with an organization known for maximizing player performance. For the Yankees, it’s another calculated bet that their coaching and development infrastructure can extract value others have missed.
