Yankees Weighing Ryan McMahon Exit as Third Base Struggles Persist
AI-generated image · US National Wire
With Ryan McMahon struggling at the hot corner, the Yankees may look toward the St. Louis Cardinals to shake up the roster.
The New York Yankees are facing a production crisis at third base following a disappointing campaign from Ryan McMahon, as Sports Illustrated first reported. According to the outlet, the 31-year-old infielder struggled both offensively and defensively during the 162-game season, slashing .213/.279/.357 with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs. His struggles continued into the postseason, where he hit .143 with a .476 OPS.
Defensively, McMahon's performance declined from his arrival at the 2025 trade deadline. Sports Illustrated reports he recorded nine errors and minus-3 Defensive Runs Saved Above Average this season, compared to 7 Defensive Runs Saved Above Average when he first joined the club.
With McMahon under contract for $16 million in 2027, general manager Brian Cashman may seek a trade to clear space for a replacement, such as Teruaki Sato. Sports Illustrated identifies the St. Louis Cardinals as a potential trade partner, noting that the Cardinals are open to a short-term starter at third base, according to St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Derrick Goold. This season, St. Louis relied on a variety of players at the position, including Nolan Gorman, Blaze Jordan, Thomas Saggese, Jose Fermin, Cesar Pierto, and Ramon Urias.
To facilitate a deal, the Yankees might need to absorb some of McMahon's salary. In return, Sports Illustrated suggests the Yankees could target 28-year-old catcher Pedro Pages, who offers defensive stability as a backup to Austin Wells. Pages recorded a 31% caught-stealing percentage and a 1.90-second pop time this season, per Baseball Savant.