The unexpected way Ryan McMahon has been a Yankees disappointment

At the beginning of the season, Ryan McMahon's putrid offensive performance had fallen below simply disappointing, and had become so bad that it felt like he was beyond redemption. Since then, the New York Yankees have seen him have seen sparks here and there, transforming him from arguably the worst hitter in the league to a well-below-average offensive player.

In a way, it was almost fine. McMahon has a reputation as a superb defensive player and, in fact, the stellar glove work he provides was almost enough to balance out his poor performance at the plate. But that great defensive play at the hot corner has also evaporated this year.

After posting 10 defensive runs saved and seven outs above average last season, McMahon has seen those totals fall to -2 DRS and 2 OAA so far in 2026. While the outs above average total is fine, having a negative rating in defensive runs saved is really concerning, especially considering that defense was one of the main reasons why the Yankees acquired the 31-year-old.

Ryan McMahon's defensive decline is one of the biggest the Yankees' disappointments

Over the past few years, the Yankees have worked hard to get more athletic and better defensively. That's why some of the power-hitting plodders of the past are gone in favor of more athletic, defensively capable players, especially at key positions.

When it works, it can be a dream, like how Cody Bellinger has become a force in left field, providing a great deal of value even when he's slumping. Last year, there was a case to be made for McMahon being a similar, albeit much more muted type of asset.

The former Rockies third baseman posted a cumulative 1.9 fWAR last season despite an 86 wRC+. Essentially, 2.0 fWAR is what you can expect out of a league-average starter, so while his bat was 14% below league average, his play in the field made up the difference.

This year, that isn't the case. McMahon has racked up 0.5 fWAR as we arrive at the true midway point of the season. This means he's trending to produce roughly 1.0 fWAR by season's end. That's not a starting caliber player. So while his 75 wRC+ on the season is a baby step back from last year's number, it's the defense that has made him less valuable.

McMahon's defensive woes haven't been as visibly atrocious as Anthony Volpe's gaffes, for example. Instead, what's going on is harder to see. He's just a little slower on his first step. A little longer in his release. But these things add up.

So while much of the focus has shifted to fixing the catching woes, with the Yankees reportedly fixated on Ryan Jeffers, third base can't be forgotten about.

The Yankees got McMahon primarily because he could play the position better than the hodge-podge of middle infielders like Oswald Peraza and DJ LeMahieu they'd been running out there, with a hope that his bat would come along. Now, they're not only finding out that they can't fix the holes in his swing, but his glove is also disintegrating before their eyes.

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