At the 2025 trade deadline, the New York Yankees made a move to strengthen their infield by acquiring Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies. The team had been looking for stability at third base, where shifting players around had left defensive gaps. McMahon, known more for his glove than his bat, was seen as someone who could solve that problem.
The trade sent two pitching prospects, left-hander Griffin Herring and right-hander Josh Grosz, to Colorado in exchange for the veteran infielder. While his defense has been an immediate upgrade, fans were cautious about his offense. Those doubts have since been realized as McMahon has struggled to hit in New York.
- The Yankees acquired Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies at the 2025 MLB trade deadline to stabilize third base.
- In 28 games with New York, McMahon has struggled offensively, hitting just .212/.320/.329 with one home run.
- After hitting his first homer as a Yankee on August 27 against the Washington Nationals, McMahon admitted, “I’ve sucked,” and said he is trying to get going.
Struggles at the Plate and Market Adjustments
The offensive side of McMahon’s game has told a different story. With the Rockies earlier in the season, he batted .217 with a .314 on-base percentage and a .403 slugging percentage in 100 games. Since joining the Yankees, those numbers have slipped. In 28 games with New York, he has managed a .212/.320/.329 slash line. His OPS sits at .649, and his strikeout rate has climbed to 32 percent, although he has also drawn walks at a healthy 12 percent clip.
These struggles have not gone unnoticed by fans, analysts, or even sportsbooks. At the trade deadline, when McMahon and other additions arrived, the Yankees’ World Series odds hovered around +850 at several books. Since then, the line has softened, with most major sportsbooks, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars, now listing New York in the +900 to +1000 range. For the American League pennant, Action Network recently had the Yankees at +450, while BetMGM data showed Detroit overtaking New York as the favorite at roughly +290.
Individual markets have also told a story of highs and lows. Aaron Judge remains the betting favorite for American League MVP, sitting at -130 on DraftKings and -220 on FanDuel, though his odds narrowed during mid-August after a brief injury concern before widening again. Ryan McMahon himself has not been a featured player in betting props in recent weeks.
First Yankees Home Run and Honest Admission
On August 27, 2025, McMahon finally gave Yankees fans a moment to celebrate. Playing at Yankee Stadium against the Washington Nationals, he went 1-for-4 and hit a three-run home run in the third inning. Part of an 11-2 Yankees victory, where the team collectively hit six long balls, the homer was McMahon’s first in New York and his second since being dealt to the Yankees.
After the game, McMahon spoke openly about his struggles at the plate. “Oh, man, finally,” he said about the home run, as reported by the New York Daily News’ Gary Phillips. “I’ve sucked. I don’t think it’s a secret, so I’m just trying to get going.” His blunt admission stood out, as it is rare for a player to describe his own struggles in such direct terms.
Defensive Value and the Yankees’ Infield Picture
While McMahon’s bat has not lived up to expectations, his defense has been exactly what the Yankees hoped for. His steady play at third base meant Jazz Chisholm Jr. could stay at second base, the spot he plays best, instead of moving around the infield where he struggled more. With Chisholm set at second, veteran Paul Goldschmidt at first, and McMahon at third, the Yankees’ infield defense became steady and reliable.
This defensive strength has provided some balance for the Yankees, who already have plenty of offensive firepower in other parts of the lineup. Even if McMahon does not become a big bat down the stretch, his glove gives the team an asset they badly needed.
Can McMahon Improve at the Plate?
The Yankees are hoping McMahon’s first home run will help him relax and unlock better results at the plate. With 28 games under his belt in New York, there is still time for him to contribute more offensively as the playoff race intensifies.
The betting markets show that while confidence in the Yankees has cooled since midsummer, when some books shortened them to around +500, they remain firmly in the group of leading contenders. For now, McMahon has admitted his struggles, shown accountability, and finally given Yankees fans a glimpse of what he can bring. As he stated himself, the goal is simply to “get going.”
