The New York Yankees have looked like one of the best teams in baseball this season, and despite hitting a rough patch, they’re still eyeing a World Series run.
But there’s a problem brewing in their infield that could derail those championship hopes.
DJ LeMahieu has been the Yankees’ primary second baseman, but he’s been underwhelming on both sides of the ball. What makes this even more problematic is that his presence at second base is creating a ripple effect throughout the infield. Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been shifted to third base to accommodate LeMahieu, but Chisholm isn’t exactly lighting it up defensively over there.
The Yankees could solve both issues with one move at the trade deadline – acquire a third baseman, move Chisholm back to second base, and send LeMahieu to the bench.
LeMahieu is slashing .248/.322/.330 this year. He was once an MVP-caliber player for the Yankees, but it’s become clear that his time as an everyday starter needs to end. CBS Sports’ R.J. Anderson recently tabbed the Yankees as a potential landing spot for Ryan McMahon of the Colorado Rockies.
“McMahon is on the wrong side of 30 and has just two more seasons remaining on his contract, suggesting the Rockies would be wise to act now, lest they miss out on their window to get a quality return,” Anderson wrote.
McMahon signed a six-year, $70 million deal in 2022 and was an All-Star last season. He’s hit at least 20 home runs in every full season since 2019, and during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he still managed nine homers in just 52 games.
Now, McMahon’s current numbers don’t exactly jump off the page. He’s slashing .220/.322/.394 this year, which may not look like much of an upgrade over LeMahieu’s production. But here’s the thing – his OPS is 63 points higher, and more importantly, his defense at third base is significantly better than what Chisholm’s been providing.
That’s where the real value lies.
Chisholm has been red-hot since returning from the injured list, slashing .318/.379/.600. The Yankees could see an even better version of him if he’s playing his natural position at second base, where he can make a bigger defensive impact while maintaining that offensive surge.
It’s a move that makes sense on multiple levels – the Yankees get better defensively at third base, optimize Chisholm’s positioning, and finally address the LeMahieu situation that’s been lingering all season.
