Yankees predicted to trade for AL rival $9M 2-time All-Star as potential Ryan McMahon replacement

Yankees predicted to trade for AL rival $9M 2-time All-Star as potential Ryan McMahon replacement originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The New York Yankees are firmly in the mix as one of the league’s true contenders, although they have gone through some rough stretches at times this season.

One player who has struggled for much of the year is third baseman Ryan McMahon, who got off to a slow start offensively.

“You’d hope for one of two things from a glove-first guy hitting No. 7 or 8 in your lineup: Either they make lots of contact in order to move runners over and force the defense to make plays, or they do damage in the form of extra-base hits. McMahon profiled as the latter when New York traded for him, but he’s been neither of late, striking out more than 30 percent of the time while sending harmless fly balls to the opposite field whenever he does connect,” FanSided’s Chris Landers wrote.

Recently, however, McMahon has begun to turn things around for the Yankees, showing signs that he may be finding his rhythm at the plate.

“There might be some light at the end of the tunnel, though. From May 19th until Wednesday, McMahon has turned things around to some extent, and the numbers show it. Over that span, the infielder is hitting .304/.319/.587 with four home runs and a 150 wRC+ in 47 plate appearances,” Pinstripe Alley’s Andres Chavez wrote.

Even with McMahon’s recent improvement, the Yankees could still pursue another third baseman as insurance in case his struggles return. Houston Astros infielder Isaac Paredes would be an intriguing option, potentially forming a platoon at third base with McMahon.

“Paredes is a right-handed hitter and a capable third baseman who could step into a platoon at the hot corner with Ryan McMahon. Paredes, a two-time All-Star, is an above-average hitter who hit 31 home runs and drove in 98 RBIs in 2023 with the Rays. This year, the 27-year-old has a .725 OPS with nine home runs and 33 RBIs in 66 games. His 106 wRC+ is still above league average but is his lowest in a single season since ’21. He’s not a top-tier defender by any metrics, but he makes up for it with his bat and can also rotate to various positions in the infield. Paredes has a $13 million club option for 2027,” SI’s Karl Rasmussen wrote.

The Yankees know they need a long-term answer at third base, and McMahon has yet to prove he can consistently fill that role. Paredes could eventually develop into New York’s everyday third baseman while also providing lineup flexibility.

Paredes is playing on a $9 million contract and has a club option for the 2027 season. The Yankees could benefit from his affordable salary while potentially moving on from McMahon’s contract. Paredes would be a solid addition for New York, providing value both offensively and defensively.

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