Ryan McMahon Trade Helps Yankees Fix a $218 Million Problem

The Yankees didn’t make a flashy move Friday. They made a smart one.

By acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Rockies, they sent a message: it’s time to start protecting their most expensive assets. That starts with providing Max Fried with the defense he deserves. 

Why This Trade Starts With Fried
New York spent $218 million this winter on a groundball artist. Fried has done his job, generating weak contact and keeping the ball on the dirt. But the defense behind him hasn’t held up its end.

The Yankees have committed 52 errors this season, tied for 9th in the American League. In Fried’s 21 starts alone, the team has committed 15 errors, including two by Fried himself. That’s the most defensive miscues behind any Yankees pitcher this season.

Games that should’ve been shut down have been extended. Outs that should’ve ended innings have turned into rallies. For a team built around starting pitching, the leaks have been costly.

What McMahon Brings
McMahon isn’t coming in to carry the offense. He’s here to clean things up.

The 29-year-old has made over 90 starts at third base this year and ranks among the league’s best in Defensive Runs Saved since 2021 (17 DRS). He brings steady hands, quick reads, and the kind of routine-play consistency the Yankees have been missing on the left side.

Offensively, McMahon isn’t a star (.217/.314/.403, 16 HR), but his lefty bat offers a little juice. There may be more there, especially at Yankee Stadium, where that short porch has saved more than a few lefty swings.

Help at Shortstop
McMahon has played all over the field in the past—but never shortstop. Rockies broadcaster and former teammate Ryan Spilborghs floated the idea that McMahon’s presence could help Anthony Volpe settle back into form. But the Yankees will still need to carry a true backup shortstop on the roster.

Bottom Line

With the season tightening and the margin for error disappearing, the Yankees are making sure their most important investments, like Fried, aren’t left hanging. McMahon may not be the star of this deadline. But if he helps prevent a few more innings from unraveling, he’ll be worth every bit of the trade.