Ranking the New York Yankees' third basemen in Alex Rodriguez's wake

Since Alex Rodriguez retired in 2016, the Yankees have had a revolving door of third basemen. In hindsight, it would have been an excellent idea to sign Manny Machado as a free agent after the 2018 season. Machado has hit .275/.340/.485 in seven seasons with the Padres, and the Yankees have continued to search for a permanent successor.

Now they've given the reins to Ryan McMahon, who has hit at least 20 home runs in each of the past six 162-game seasons. McMahon's Rockies were one of the worst teams in the league for most of his career, and Yankees fans are hoping that playing for a competitive team can help him take his game to another level. He has already made an impact with his glove, and if he cuts down on the strikeouts, maybe he can skyrocket up this list.

For now, here's how we'd rank the Yankees' post-A-Rod third basemen.

Ranking Yankees' third basemen after Alex Rodriguez

Gio Urshela

Gio Urshela was so down and out prior to joining the Yankees that the team bought him from the Blue Jays for $25,000. It was the best bang for your buck Brian Cashman has ever gotten. Urshela hit .292/.335/.480 in 291 games for the Yanks and started two Opening Days (2020-2021).

Urshela had a signature moment when he crushed a 3-2 fastball over the high wall in Cleveland's Progressive Field for a grand slam, giving the Yanks a 5-4 lead in the clinching game of the 2020 ALDS.

A year later, he flew face-first into the Rays' dugout to make the catch of the year. That offseason, the Yankees blundered and traded him to the Minnesota Twins as part of the package for Josh Donaldson.

Todd Frazier

Todd Frazier's time with the Yankees was short but sweet. Frazier's iconic thumbs-down emote was the rallying cry for a team that was cheated out of the pennant by the Houston Astros.

It's fair to wonder what might have been for the Yankees and Frazier had they danced down the Canyon of Heroes together with the Commissioner's Trophy. Since retiring in 2021, Frazier now works for the YES Network as a studio analyst.

Miguel Andújar

Before he was a bad trade offer meme, Miguel Andújar finished second to Shohei Ohtani for the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year. He hit .297/.328/.527 and looked like a natural hitter. From 2019 to 2022, injuries reduced him to a shell of his former self, and the front office stuck with him long enough to leave a sour taste in fans' mouths.

After the Yanks, he went to the Pirates, A's, and Reds, and last season he hit an impressive .318/.352/.470 in 94 games.

Oswaldo Cabrera

Oswaldo Cabrera has been in the Yankees organization since he was 17 years old. Since making his debut in 2022, he's played every position except catcher. Cabrera has been in the Opening Day lineup twice (2024, 2025), hitting .234/.295/.346 in 301 games.

Chase Headley

For my younger readers who don't remember his playing days, Chase Headley is the epitome of Mid. The Yankees traded for Headley, and he became one of Brian Cashman's projects that never panned out, hitting .262/.339/.387 in 501 games. In December 2017, with one year left on his four-year contract, the Yanks traded Headley to the Padres; he retired the following year.

Josh Donaldson

Brian Cashman traded for Josh Donaldson weeks before the start of the 2022 season. As a Yankee, Donaldson hit .207/.293/.385 in 165 games. In May 2022, he was suspended for making an inappropriate and racially-tinged comment to Tim Anderson of the White Sox.

Urshela, whom the Yankees traded away to acquire Donaldson, batted .285/.337/.429 that season. The most frustrating thing about the Donaldson experience was the bat-flipping fly balls and constant platitudes from Aaron Boone and the front office that Donaldson was close to figuring it out.

Unranked: Ronald Torreyes, Tyler Wade, DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, Ryan McMahon, Jon Berti, Brandon Drury

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