If you believe MLB insiders, the New York Yankees are considered the favorites to land third baseman Eugenio Suarez.
But Mark Feinsand of MLB.com shared some insights into New York’s backup plan if it loses out on the Arizona Diamondbacks‘ All-Star third baseman to a rival club.
Feinsand, a long time Yankees beat writer with the New York Daily News before he moved to MLB.com, indicated the Yankees would prefer to target Ryan McMahon of the Colorado Rockies.
Suarez is considered the best-available position player to acquire via trade by multiple outlets. But he will be a free agent after this season, and Yankees aren’t the only club seeking his services.
Why Are The Yankees Interested in Ryan McMahon?
The Yankees are the betting favorites to win the wide-open American League, but they have a veritable black hole at third base that needs to be filled.
According to FanGraphs, Yankees third basemen are tied for last in the majors in WAR (0.5) and have combined for a .646 OPS, which is far lower than the league-average mark of .740.
The Yankees have been running out a platoon featuring Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas. Peraza has just a 24 wRC+ per FanGraphs, and Vivas is nursing an OPS+ of 49.
Luckily, the Yankees have options available to upgrade their third-base spot. Though they are reportedly targeting Suarez — who is second in the NL in home runs (36) and has an OPS+ of 149 — they are also checking in on McMahon.
“The Yankees have interest in Ryan McMahon as a backup plan to Eugenio Suarez, sources said, as they try to upgrade at third base,” Feinsand posted on X (formerly Twitter). “McMahon is controlled through 2027, earning $16 million in each of the next two seasons.”
McMahon is three years younger than Suarez and under team control, which makes him an alluring target too — even though his OPS+ of 92 is still below-average especially since he plays his home games at Coors Field.
But McMahon was an All-Star in 2024 and is having a passable season despite his NL-leading 127 strikeouts. He is second on the Rockies in home runs (16) and third in runs (42) and is durable, leading them in plate appearances (401).
McMahon would also be a serviceable defensive player at the hot corner, since the Yankees are reportedly concerned about Suarez’s defense. He ranks seventh in the majors in fielding percentage among qualifying third basemen (.978) with just six errors while taking the most chances (276) in the majors, per ESPN.
What Other Third Base Options Are Available For The Yankees?
Suarez and McMahon may be the two-best options for the Yankees to target at third base. But they aren’t the only available players.
Though it may seem like sacrilege, the Yankees and New York Mets have made trades in two of the past three seasons and have been linked to deals too. Mark Vientos, who has fallen out of favor with Mets fans due to his awful offensive season, would also constitute an upgrade from the Yankees hot corner spot.
The Yankees would also likely target Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates if McMahon and Suarez prove too rich for their blood.
Hayes, whose father Charlie Hayes did two tours with the Yanks and won the World Series in New York in 1996, has an OPS+ of just 64, but he did win the NL Gold Glove in 2023 and is third in the majors in third baseman fielding percentage (.985) while taking the second-most chances (264).
Yankees Insider Reveals ‘Backup Plan’ if Eugenio Suarez Trade Doesn’t Happen