Why Yankees' top trade deadline target should be third base help with Ryan McMahon problem

The New York Yankees are looking to make some more trade deadline moves this summer, just as they did a year ago, with some big moves to try to improve the roster.

Brian Cashman traded for David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and most notably, Ryan McMahon to be their new third baseman. That trade has not gone well, and now one year later, they're once again in the third base trade market.

Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report identified third base as the Yankees' top trade deadline need, and for good reason. McMahon's struggles this season have third base as the team's top deadline need, despite the heated interest in Ryan Jeffers and links to Tarik Skubal.

Why third base is Yankees' top trade deadline need

"Third base looks like the most glaring hole, with Ryan McMahon (202 PA, 74 OPS+) providing little impact and utility guys Amed Rosario and Jose Cabellera holding things down now that he is injured," Reuter writes.

The 48-37 Yankees have been struggling a bit lately, and while that's come with McMahon on the injured list, even if he were in the lineup, he wouldn't be providing many positives to the offense.

This season, McMahon has a .210 batting average with eight homers and 23 RBIs in 69 games and 186 at-bats with a .629 OPS. As Reuter shared, 74 OPS+ is also not great, as it's 26 percent below a league-average hitter.

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Adding a new third baseman at the deadline is a top priority for the Yankees. Matt Chapman of the San Francisco Giants would be an aggressive move, but someone like Isaac Paredes of the Houston Astros might be a little bit more sensible.

But, with Rosario and Cabellero's flexibility, the Yankees could, in theory, add a shortstop or second baseman to try to upgrade the offense while shifting around some infield pieces.

Ideally, the Yankees find a new long-term third baseman at the 2026 trade deadline, moving on from McMahon in the process, and hoping a new player at the hot corner, plus the returns of Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham, and Giancarlo Stanton, improve the offense.

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