Hardball in the Bronx: Why the Yankees Must Cut Ryan McMahon Now
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With a $16 million salary and declining production, the experiment with the third baseman has failed—and waiting for a trade partner may be a losing game.
In the high-stakes environment of the New York Yankees, there comes a point where an experiment simply ceases to be viable. As Sports Illustrated first reported, that point has arrived for Ryan McMahon.
When the Colorado Rockies traded McMahon to the Yankees, the Rockies managed to offload his contract without paying a single cent of it, a move Sports Illustrated describes as one of the first good moves in that franchise's recent history. Now, the Yankees are left holding a player whose offensive contributions have been nonexistent. Joseph Randazzo of Sports Illustrated notes that while former Yankee Joey Gallo arrived in New York as a former MVP candidate and All-Star, McMahon has never once recorded a season where he was even league average.
The numbers paint a grim picture. While with the Rockies, McMahon posted an 89 wRC+. Since arriving in the Bronx, that number has plummeted to an 80 wRC+. While he once relied on his glove to stay relevant, his defensive metrics have cratered. Sports Illustrated reports that in 2026, McMahon recorded a 0 OAA and -3 DRS at third base, a sharp decline from the previous season's 7 OAA and 10 DRS.
From my perspective as a columnist who watches the league's trade-deadline dynamics, the Yankees are currently staring at a massive financial anchor. McMahon is slated to make $16 million this year. In a market where the Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly concerned that Paul Skenes's arbitration number will be too high, the prospect of finding a trade partner to absorb McMahon's salary is slim. As Sports Illustrated points out, if teams were hesitant to take on his contract when he still had upside in Colorado, that interest is likely even lower now.
Some might point to his 44.8% hard-hit rate and 90.5 mph average exit velocity as reasons to stay the course. However, Sports Illustrated argues these figures are meaningless when his OPS cannot break .700, resulting in empty plate appearances and a lack of production.
If the Yankees are serious about optimizing their roster, they cannot afford to wait for a savior in the trade market. Sports Illustrated suggests the team should consider outright cutting McMahon before the start of Spring Training. While this would mean swallowing the full $16 million salary, it opens the door for more dynamic options. Though Jose Caballero and Anthony Volpe have not hit at league average, Sports Illustrated notes they provide a speed element and base-stealing ability that makes them clear upgrades over McMahon.
For over a decade since the retirement of Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees have struggled to find a permanent solution at third base, with only Gio Urshela providing a brief window of stability. McMahon has proven he is not the answer. If the front office wants to play hardball, cutting the dead weight now is the only move that makes sense.