Third base had been a position of instability for a large part of the New York Yankees' 2025 campaign, with seven different players getting opportunities there by late July. As the trade deadline approached, it became a glaring need.
The Yankees fulfilled that need five days before the July 31 deadline, acquiring the Colorado Rockies' Ryan McMahon in exchange for two minor-league pitchers (Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz). McMahon, an All-Star in 2024, provided the Yankees with a clear upgrade at the hot corner.
Not everyone associated with the club was happy with the deal, however. Gary Sheffield Jr. — who shares the same name as his father, former Yankees outfielder and World Series champion Gary Sheffield — recently took to social media to express his displeasure with the move, while taking a shot at general manager Brian Cashman in the process.
Sheffield Jr. criticizes Cashman for making trade for McMahon
McMahon has provided the Yankees with modest production since being acquired. In his first 35 games with the club, he has put together a .243/.341/.393 slash line with three home runs and 15 RBIs. Even if he isn't producing at an All-Star level, the consistency he has provided at the position has surely cured some headaches in the Yankees' clubhouse.
That, however, isn't enough for Sheffield Jr., especially when considering the other options the Yankees may have had at their disposal.
Sheffield Jr. voiced his criticism of the McMahon deal in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday. Sheffield Jr.'s post was a response to a separate post by Nat Gordo, which cited a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan that claimed Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman is likely to opt out of his current contract and become a free agent this winter.
"Thank god the Yankees didn’t agree to spend three years $48 million on a defensive specialist at third base," Sheffield Jr. wrote in the post. "Would be terrible if they had taken themselves out of the Bregman sweepstakes with a near-sided move at the deadline!"
Thank god the Yankees didn’t agree to spend three years $48 million on a defensive specialist at third base
— Gary Sheffield Jr. (@GarysheffieldJr) September 4, 2025
Would be terrible if they had taken themselves out of the Bregman sweepstakes with a near-sided move at the deadline! https://t.co/gdJi7OBAT8
Bregman, who is expected to be among this offseason's top free agents, would be an even greater upgrade at third base, given his reputation as a two-time World Series champion and a three-time All-Star. But a move for Bregman likely would have been a costly one, as Passan expects him to fetch a deal five-plus years in length worth $35 million or more per year.
Hindsight is 20/20, but only time will tell whether the Yankees made the right decision in the end.