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The New York Yankees are one of the better teams in Major League Baseball this season, but there is a very clear need for the team to get better by this year's trade deadline.
While there will be plenty of attention on the bullpen, the Yankees could also use an upgrade to their offense, and specifically, in the infield. Second base, shortstop, and third base are the three positions the Yankees could look to upgrade this season.
Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly linked the Yankees to infield upgrades and highlighted how just one of Anthony Volpe, Jose Caballero, and Ryan McMahon would be negatively impacted. That player is .562 OPS former All-Star and third baseman, McMahon.
Yankees' trade target for INF is Ryan McMahon upgrade
"Between Jose Caballero and Jazz Chisholm Jr., the Yankees have some flexible chess pieces in the infield," Kelly writes. "... One way or another, the Yankees can't enter the postseason with Ryan McMahon... getting regular at-bats at third base."
The Yankees cannot continue to rely on McMahon, who is struggling to the tune of a .562 OPS this season, as their primary third baseman for the postseason.
Chisholm, Caballero, and Volpe aren't the issue for the Yankees this season, as McMahon is likely the odd man out.
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Technically, the Yankees could try to trot out an infield with Chisholm, Caballero, and Volpe taking up the second base, shortstop, and third base spots in whatever formation works best.
But, if the Yankees could go out and trade for someone like CJ Abrams, Ketel Marte, or some other star infielder, then moving around the other infielders to ensure McMahon doesn't start often, if at all, for the Yankees would make a lot of sense.
Kelly doesn't believe the Yankees can rely on McMahon in the postseason, and their biggest question at this year's deadline will be whether they can upgrade the infield and how such an upgrade would impact the current options.
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