he New York Yankees were in desperate need of a third baseman near the trade deadline. The team acquired Ryan McMahon, but he has not been great.

He is slashing .223/.328/.350 in 34 games with the Yankees and is under club control for two more seasons. The club control that came with McMahon may hurt the Yankees in free agency.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Bregman will opt out of his contract, barring an “injury or catastrophic slump.” Bregman would be a clear upgrade over McMahon, but McMahon’s contract makes it difficult for the Yankees to get involved in Bregman’s free agency.

The Yankees would have to try and trade McMahon, which would also be difficult. Son of legendary former Yankee Gary Sheffield, Gary Sheffield Jr., took a not-so-subtle jab at Brian Cashman for acquiring McMahon and potentially costing the Yankees Bregman.

“Thank god the Yankees didn’t agree to spend three years $48 million on a defensive specialist at third base,” Sheffield Jr. wrote on X. “Would be terrible if they had taken themselves out of the Bregman sweepstakes with a near-sided move at the deadline!”

Sheffield’s sarcastic remarks are a clear slight at Cashman’s decision to go after McMahon instead of a rental third baseman. His father was a two-time All-Star with the Yankees and played for the team while Cashman was the general manager as well.

Bregman’s free agency should have plenty of players, but the Red Sox may be willing to do whatever it takes to keep him in Boston. Regardless, it will be tough for the Yankees to throw their hat in the ring.