The one position the New York Yankees did not make any major attempts to improve this offseason was third base. The plan was to move Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second base and let the kids such as Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza to split time at the hot corner.
Now, Cabrera is out for the season after an ankle injury and Peraza has a .158 average in 76 at-bats. Third base is a position of weakness for New York and something that will need to be addressed prior to the trade deadline. Here are three players the Yankees should go after to fill that void.
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Yoan Moncada, Los Angeles Angels
Moncada has appeared in just 26 games after beginning the season on the injured list, and he has done decent work both at the plate and in the field for the Angels.
He has a .221 average with five doubles, four home runs and 17 RBIs. Impressively enough, with his low average, Moncada still boasts a .775 OPS, well above the MLB average of .710.
Moncada would add a switch-hitting bat and stability at third base for the remainder of the season, both areas that New York could use if it has hopes of returning to the World Series for the second consecutive season.
Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies
McMahon has already been mentioned as a trade target of both the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, meaning there is no reason the Yankees shouldn’t also check in on his availability.
McMahon is struggling a bit this season, hitting just .207 through 179 at-bats. The lowest he’s ever hit in a full season was .240 in 2023, meaning he will need to get hot in a hurry to get up to those numbers.
Being stuck on an abysmal Colorado Rockies team surely hadn’t helped his case, and a change of scenery may be what McMahon needs. Also, he did reach base in four of his eight plate appearances against New York over the weekend, something the Yankees will certainly remember.
Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates
Hayes is not a name that has been mentioned among trade candidates, but it is safe to assume he could be made available if Pittsburgh continues its downward spiral.
Much like the other two names on the list, Hayes is having a bit of a down year, with just a .229 average and one home run in 192 at-bats. It could be similar to McMahon’s situation, where a change of scenery would be extremely beneficial.
His addition to the left side of the Yankees infield would give the team two Gold Glove winners on that side of the field and could help improve an aspect that New York has struggled with over the last few seasons. The Yankees should jump at the opportunity to acquire Hayes if he becomes available.
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