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Yankees 3B Looks to Prove Himself This Season

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports | By Jack Rotolo | Last updated Feb 10, 2026 8:04 PM ET

The New York Yankees have remained mostly inactive this offseason, at least in terms of transactions involving major leaguers. This isn’t too surprising considering the trade deadline they had; last July, New York acquired relief pitchers David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Jake Bird, as well as infielders Amed Rosario and Ryan McMahon.

Rosario’s role was mostly that of a bench/platoon bat, as the 30-year-old veteran only came into games to face left-handed pitching. McMahon, on the other hand, had a much larger role in the second half of New York’s season, taking on starting duties at third base through to the postseason. Though his numbers were not great (at least, the offensive ones), McMahon now has the chance to prove himself as a viable starter at third, and perhaps become New York’s third baseman for the long haul.

Ryan McMahon Looking to Cement Himself as Yankees Third Baseman

Defensive Wizard

The Yankees knew when they acquired the former Gold Glove winner that fielding was his specialty, and maybe they acquired him for this very reason. Before McMahon took over at third, DJ LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza (neither of whom is still on the roster) were splitting time at third base. The Yankees had 21 errors committed by third basemen in 2025, which was the fifth-most in all of baseball.

In came McMahon, who started 49 games at third base for New York last season, instantly tightening up the entire infield with his defensive prowess. He led MLB in range factor (RF/9) at 2.88 and led MLB third basemen in assists (297), ranked 2nd in putouts (108), and 3rd in DRS (10). Clearly, the longtime Colorado Rockie knows what he’s doing in the field; rather, the main question that he faces this season is whether or not he can up his game at the plate.

RYAN MCMAHON YOU MANIAC!!!! pic.twitter.com/T5ioOfa5Gb

— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) October 3, 2025

McMahon Must Improve at the Plate

A slash line of .208/.308/.333 is not usually what you like to see from a third baseman, no matter how good their defense is. McMahon has a lifetime OPS+ of 91, so he’s technically been a below-average hitter for his entire career. However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for improvement. Firstly, playing an entire season at Yankee Stadium as a left-handed bat will aid McMahon’s power numbers, granted he has still hit at least 20 home runs in every full season since 2019. Additionally, McMahon will have the luxury of being a part of New York’s offensive juggernaut for an entire season, rather than the number three hitter on one of the league’s worst teams (no offense, Rockies fans). It wouldn’t be a surprise if McMahon’s offensive numbers are a bit better than usual for that same reason.

Though the Yankees could definitely have used another solid offensive infielder like Bo Bichette, third base is still not a big area of concern with McMahon. His production at the plate hovers around average with solid HR and RBI totals, so with guys like Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Ben Rice, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. batting in front of him, he will surely find himself with plenty of opportunities to boost his numbers. Still, with two years left before he hits free agency, McMahon will have to begin proving his worth at the plate if he wants a chance to stay in the Bronx.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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