Yankees manager Aaron Boone reacts to Ryan McMahon trade

The New York Yankees spent the offseason listening to the Los Angeles Dodgers boast about how proper fundamentals won them the World Series. The Yankees dropped an easy line drive in center field and let a weak ground ball to first base facilitate their loss in Game 5 of the World Series. They vowed to improve defensively. To prove manager Aaron Boone right. To make another deep playoff run.

And then the same infield defense that lost New York a championship cost them a chance at first place in the American League East, fumbling a series against the Toronto Blue Jays before swiftly throwing it out of play.

Now, 4.5 games out of first place, the Yankees have made their move.

Yankees trade for glove-first third baseman

On Friday, New York traded pitching prospects Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz to the Colorado Rockies for third baseman Ryan McMahon.

McMahon may not be worth his $70 million contract. He is yet to post a wRC+ over 100. And yet, his existence as an upgrade is undeniable.

The Yankees trotted out Jazz Chisholm Jr. at third base for much of the season. For all his talent, it’s abundantly clear he isn’t a natural at the position. More recently, Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas have taken the reins of the hot corner, without much success. Both bats are untenable, meaning McMahon doesn’t even have to be average to be an improvement.

McMahon’s game is headlined by his elite glove at third, where his Outs Above Average lands in the 91st percentile. He hasn’t finished a season worse than the 90th percentile since the shortened 2020 season. He’s one of the best infielders in the sport, and after the comedy of errors the Yankees have endured in recent weeks, it’s a worthy addition.

Each crucial error reflects poorly on Boone, whose seat feels hotter now that New York is in second place and playing legitimately ugly baseball. There may not be a better marriage between player and manager this deadline.

“Really excited,” Boone said at a pre-game presser. “Been an All-Star third baseman. Really good defender. Has had some ups and downs offensively this year. … We’re excited to get him.”

MORE: Ryan McMahon trade grades: Yankees play it safe with Rockies infielder, Colorado addresses pitching

McMahon’s bat has been inconsistent, largely due to an exorbitant 31.5% strikeout rate. Still, there is reason to believe New York can tap into his upside. He hits the ball hard and pulls it in the air. His swing decisions are fine, and his walk rates are among the best in the sport. The culprit is his perpetual inability to make contact.

Moreover, the Yankees’ player development far exceeds the Rockies’ prehistoric attempts at innovation, leaving meat on the bone for his growth in his new home. At the very least, McMahon raises the floor of New York’s infield, making a slide toward the bottom of the order acceptable.

“I know there’s real offensive potential in there,” Boone added. I know he’s had offensive success as well as some struggles there over the last calendar year, too. Seems like over the last month he’s started swinging the bat like he’s capable of, because he can impact the ball, he can control the strike zone. He’s had some swing and miss that has probably hurt him a little bit. But then he can really defend over there. The handful of times that we’ve played against them that I watch him, you’re like, ‘That’s what it should look like over there.'”

There is a unique pressure to playing in New York, perhaps even more so with navy pinstripes. But McMahon doesn’t have to try and carry the worst team in baseball anymore. Transitioning from supposed star to role player could move him closer to the latter.

The Yankees got better on Friday, and it’s possible that having an elite defender at third has residual effects for the rest of the infield. Boone, rightfully, is excited about his new addition.

“There’s no reason to think we can’t be a really good defensive club moving forward.”

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