The New York Yankees look like one of the most complete teams in baseball through the first stretch of the 2026 season, but a new breakdown from Empire Sports Media (ESM) suggests a growing concern that could quietly reshape their lineup.
According to ESM’s founder Alexander Wilson, the Yankees may soon need to confront an uncomfortable reality about Ryan McMahon, whose early-season struggles are becoming difficult to ignore despite the team’s strong start.
Yankees’ Hot Start Masking Infield Concerns
New York has opened the season at 7-2, powered by elite production from Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger, along with a pitching staff that has performed at a near historic level. That success has helped cover up issues deeper in the lineup, particularly across the infield.
McMahon’s production has stood out for the wrong reasons.
Through his first nine games, he is hitting .087 with a .276 on-base percentage and no power production, translating to a 31 wRC+. That means he has performed nearly 70% below league average offensively, a number that immediately raises questions about lineup sustainability for a team with championship expectations.
Wilson’s analysis highlights a familiar issue. McMahon still hits the ball hard when he makes contact, but he simply does not make enough of it.
Contact Problems Continue to Define McMahon
The Yankees did not acquire McMahon expecting a perfect hitter, but they believed underlying metrics suggested room for improvement. His hard-hit rate remains strong relative to his career norms, reinforcing the idea that his raw ability has not disappeared.
The problem is frequency.
McMahon’s strikeout rate has climbed to nearly 38%, while his whiff rate sits near the bottom of the league. Those numbers reflect a hitter who continues to struggle with consistent contact, an issue that has followed him throughout his career.
Wilson also pointed to another limiting factor. McMahon lacks the speed to offset those struggles. Ranking near the bottom of MLB in sprint speed, he cannot turn weak contact into infield hits. That removes a margin for error that faster players rely on, placing even more pressure on him to square up the baseball.
The result is a narrow path to offensive value. If McMahon is not barreling the ball, he is likely making outs.
Yankees Could Face Bigger Decision by Trade Deadline
For now, the Yankees have the luxury of patience. A 7-2 start buys time, and the organization has historically avoided making early-season overreactions. But Wilson’s reporting makes clear that patience will not last forever.
Unlike other infield questions, there is no immediate internal solution at third base. Anthony Volpe is expected to return and stabilize shortstop, which could push Jose Caballero out of the lineup. That situation has a defined timeline.
McMahon’s does not.
If his production does not improve over the next few months, the Yankees may need to expand their trade deadline priorities beyond pitching. That would mark a significant shift in roster strategy, especially for a team that built its offseason around reinforcing other areas.
From a roster construction standpoint, the challenge is clear. Third base does not offer an obvious replacement internally, and acquiring one midseason would require meaningful assets or financial flexibility.
That leaves the Yankees in a familiar but uncomfortable position.
They can wait and hope the adjustments translate, or they can prepare for a more aggressive move if the results do not follow.
For now, McMahon’s struggles have not derailed a strong start. But as Empire Sports Media’s analysis suggests, the conversation around his role is already beginning, and it could become one of the defining decisions of the Yankees’ season if the trend continues.
Yankees Could Revisit Infielder Role if Struggles Continue