Yankees make season-defining decision on trade for $70 million infielder

The New York Yankees have hit a rough spot in the season. They have lost sole possession of the American League East lead, and their infield flaws are becoming more evident.

The Yankees have DJ LeMahieu playing second base because that’s where he feels more comfortable, according to The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner. However, he is struggling at the plate and in the field. The Yankees catering to him means that Jazz Chisholm Jr. is playing at third base, where he himself admitted he is not at his best.

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The Yankees cannot keep trotting LeMahieu out there much longer if they expect to be a team that is contending for a World Series. However, the Yankees have seemingly made a decision on what they want to do. They have started making calls around the league about available third basemen, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman.

Heyman revealed that the Yankees have specifically inquired about Ryan McMahon of the Colorado Rockies. McMahon was an All-Star last year and has hit at least 20 home runs in every full season since 2019. During the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he had nine homers.

McMahon is under contract through 2027 after signing a six-year, $70 million deal in 2022. He is slashing .216/.318/.387 in 84 games. A change of scenery and playing on a team with winning aspirations could get him swinging the bat better. However, it will be hard to be worse than LeMahieu at the plate, and he will upgrade the Yankees’ infield defense simply by enabling Chisholm to play second base.

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McMahon has a plus-3 outs above average this season. He is in the 87th percentile for outs above average. Him at third base would be an upgrade over Chisholm, and Chisholm would be an upgrade at second base over LeMahieu. Adding a player like McMahon could be the difference between the Yankees making a deep run in October or going home early.

More MLB: Braves trade proposal brings Pirates superstar to Atlanta in 3-for-1 blockbuster

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