Man, Ryan McMahon had a *rough* offensive season for the New York Yankees this year. We’re talking a brutal .213 batting average, a .279 on-base percentage, and a .357 slugging, with only 11 dingers and a measly .635 OPS. Ouch. And get this: his defense, usually his strong suit, wasn’t even up to his usual standard. When your glove isn’t flashing and your bat is sleeping, you’ve got a problem. McMahon is still on the books for a hefty $16 million in 2027, which means the Yankees have a real dilemma on their hands. Do they try to offload some of that salary in a trade, or do they just bite the bullet, find a new starting third baseman, and stash McMahon on the bench?
The Astros Might Hold the Key to the Yankees’ Hot Corner Mess
Here’s where things get interesting, because the Houston Astros might just be heading into a slight rebuild. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter dropped a pretty big hint that a two-time All-Star could be on the move this winter. Reuter points out that the Astros are at a crossroads: their starting rotation needs an overhaul, they’ve got aging stars like Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, and two key hitters in Isaac Paredes and Jeremy Peña are staring down free agency. A full-blown rebuild makes a lot of sense, but even if they just retool, Paredes is a logical trade candidate. Why? Big time infield logjam and he’s only got one year of control left.
Isaac Paredes’ Numbers Scream “Upgrade” for New York
If the Astros do decide to move Paredes before he hits free agency in 2028, the Yankees should be all over that. Paredes had a monster 2026, launching 25 homers, driving in 94 runs, and putting up a solid 4.0 bWAR. That kind of production would be a massive upgrade for the New York infield right away. Imagine that firepower, and they could still keep McMahon, Jose Caballero, and Anthony Volpe as options for the hot corner. Plus, this year’s free agent class for third basemen is pretty weak, with Alec Bohm and Isiah Kiner-Falefa being the biggest names. If the Yankees want a fresh face at third, someone who can actually mash, Paredes is the guy. It might cost them a prospect or two, but for an instant boost like that? It’s a no-brainer.
The offseason is officially here, and the Yankees front office has some serious work to do. They need to figure out what they’re doing with Ryan McMahon, and with a thin free agent market, the trade market, especially a potential Isaac Paredes move, looks like their best bet to fix that third base hole.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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