Predicting 5 Yankees trade deadline acquisitions that could replace Ryan McMahon

The MLB trade deadline is more than three-and-a-half months away, but when it comes to third base, it's not too early for the New York Yankees to begin considering replacements for Ryan McMahon. The hot corner was a major issue in the first half of last season, and while McMahon was pegged as a solution, his abysmal offensive play since landing in the Bronx has made it clear that his days should be numbered.

Aaron Boone's decision to sit McMahon in favor of Amed Rosario against righty Aaron Civale in the series opener against the Athletics could be seen as the skipper coming to grips with the fact that McMahon has become a problem. However, after Rosario's massive two-homer performance, the skipper refused to commit more playing time to Rosario moving forward.

In all honesty, Rosario isn't truly an option to be more than a platoon option, anyway. The utility man owns a career .798 OPS against southpaws, but while his .670 mark against righties is better than what McMahon has done recently, it's still nothing to write home about.

With that in mind, here are five names who could be on the block come July that would present potential solutions at third for New York.

Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes

The Houston Astros might not have truly wanted to trade Isaac Paredes over the offseason, but they soon arrived at the fact that it was their best option. The 27-year-old was engulfed by the rumor mill all the way through spring training. Ultimately, the Astros never found the value they sought.

Things could be very different by the trade deadline. Christian Walker has started the year hot, and if he keeps it up it'd be easier for them to part with Paredes. Houston's pitching staff has been awful and is starting to get bitten by injuries, setting them up to potentially be knocked out of the race by midseason.

Paredes would be the best possible player the Yankees could acquire come July, though he'd require a notable financial commitment through 2027. That, plus the Astros' asking price, could scare the Yankees off, but if they're serious about rectifying their mistake, Paredes is the move to make.

New York Mets utility man Brett Baty

Brett Baty was once one of the jewels of the New York Mets' farm system, though it took him a while to prove his worth at the big league level. He finally put together an above-average offensive season last year with a 111 wRC+. However, after that "breakout" season, the 26-year-old has been displaced by Bo Bichette and now has experience at second base, first base, and the outfield corners as well.

He was rumored to be on the trade block over the offseason, and could be dangled once again at the deadline if the Mets believe they can swap him for a more useful piece, given their roster construction. He's a lefty bat who had a reputation for big power in the minor leagues. That pop hasn't fully manifested in the bigs yet, but perhaps playing his home games in Yankee Stadium could help unlock that.

New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos

Like Baty, Mark Vientos has been the subject of trade rumors that only grew louder once Bo Bichette arrived in Queens. He seemed to break out as a right-handed power bat in 2024 with 27 homers and a .516 SLG in 111 games. Unfortunately, he fell off big time last year, though he's now off to a scalding start in 2026.

The 26-year-old isn't without his warts. He can be prone to strikeouts and walks at a slightly below-average clip, but the biggest concern is that he's a butcher in the field. He'd be the anti-McMahon, and it makes one wonder if he'd actually be worth it.

St. Louis Cardinals utility man Ramon Urias

Ramon Urias is where we start getting into the affordable options. He's a utility man who has played at the hot corner over anywhere else, and can be a decent glove there. He's making just $2 million this year and has a mutual option for the same amount for next season.

The soon-to-be 32-year-old feels like one of those pieces that the rebuilding St. Louis Cardinals signed with the intention of flipping at the deadline, so he should be available, though for a relatively cheap price. He's a right-handed hitter, but he's very balanced with a .731 career OPS against southpaws and a .726 mark against righties. This wouldn't be a flashy move, but he'd be competent with both the bat and the glove, making him a worthy upgrade.

Colorado Rockies utility man Willi Castro

The Yankees and Rockies have been willing trade partners in the past, though after McMahon, one has to wonder if they should truly consider another Colorado infielder to solve the problem created by the last one they traded for. With that said, Willi Castro could be an intriguing option.

The 29-year-old is a switch-hitter with a versatile skillset. He can play all over the diamond, is coming off two straight years of double-digit homers, and stole 33 bases back in 2023. He's still a lower-end option like Urias, but an intriguing one if the cost isn't too high.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow