The New York Yankees have some major needs to handle at the upcoming trade deadline, and third base is high on that list.
With a current platoon of Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas at the hot corner, the Yankees have the least clarity at third base of any contender. They've got Arizona Diamondbacks star Eugenio Suárez circled on their trade deadline agenda.
Unfortunately for the Yankees, a lot of other teams have similarly strong feelings about Suárez, who hit four home runs in three games over the weekend. The D-backs also got back to .500 with a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Even if Suárez is traded (no guarantee), the Yankees have to be prepared to pivot if Arizona chooses another team's prospect package. One baseball writer thinks one of Arizona's division rivals could provide an alternative.
On Sunday, Sportsnaut's Matt Johnson predicted that New York would acquire third baseman Ryan McMahon from the historically bad Colorado Rockies.
"Since we have Eugenio Suárez landing with the Mariners in our MLB trade deadline predictions, the New York Yankees have to pivot. They go to another third baseman who has been on their radar for over a year," wrote Johnson.
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"Ryan McMahon, a 30-year-old left-handed hitter, does not have Suárez’s numbers at the plate this season; his .694 OPS leaves a lot to be desired. However, he posted a .751 OPS from 2019 to 2024 and will provide far better value defensively than Suárez. It would be a gamble in some regards, but a worthwhile one for New York."
Johnson also leaves out the contract situation, which is of major importance in the case of Suárez versus McMahon. While the former is a free agent this winter, the latter has a six-year, $70 million extension that pays him through 2027 ($16 million in each of the last two years).
McMahon might wind up becoming a great addition for the Yankees, as a lot of hitters actually improve after escaping Colorado. But New York will have to be prepared to shoulder a hefty contract burden if they want to find out.
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