The New York Yankees are one of a select number of MLB teams that can often take on lengthy and lucrative contracts, so when the team makes moves, of course, they think about the contract and the amount it holds, but New York is, well, a lot better off financially than most teams across the league. With that come contracts that don’t necessarily pan out, or sometimes the Yankees take on money via a trade, which also contributes to the cap situation.
Last season, the Yankees desperately needed a third baseman, so they went out and acquired Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies. McMahon carries a six-year, $70 million contract, which was recently named New York’s ‘worst contract’ in 2026.
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Ryan McMahon’s Contract Named ‘Worst’ for Yankees
In a recent Bleacher Report post by writer Tim Kelly, Kelly names the worst contract for each MLB team in 2026, and Ryan McMahon’s $70 million deal is the pick for the Yankees:
“After being acquired in a July trade from the Colorado Rockies, Ryan McMahon hit just .208 with a .641 OPS for the Yankees. To his credit, McMahon is a strong defender, as evidenced by the 10 defensive runs saved he posted at the hot corner between the Rockies and Yankees a year ago. But he was virtually unplayable against left-handed pitching in 2025, hitting just .184 with 41 strikeouts in 114 at-bats against southpaws. At this point, he appears to be a platoon player.”
The thing about McMahon’s contract is the fact that the Yankees weren’t the ones who inked the deal, but are now responsible for what to do with the remaining years on his deal. They could trade McMahon, but how likely is that if he hasn’t produced at that high a level with the bat.
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Ryan McMahon Will Be an Important Piece for New York
GettyYankees GM Brian Cashman
Ryan McMahon will be an important piece for the New York Yankees’ infield in 2026. He’s a strong defender and is even getting some reps at shortstop in spring training.
But, as Kelly noted, McMahon’s bat has not been that strong since he was named an All-Star in 2024.
One thing McMahon does have going for him, and maybe playing in Coors Field helped him with this, is that he has five straight seasons with 20 home runs, but he did not post an OPS+ higher than 100 in any of those seasons.
The short right field porch at Yankee Stadium should help him keep those same power numbers, but still, New York may end up regretting trading for him when all said and done.
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