Just under a week before the trade deadline, the Yankees made their first move to upgrade the roster by acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for minor league pitchers Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz. The Yankees got their long-awaited upgrade at the hot corner, one who’s more than steady defensively, and didn’t have to dip into the premier prospect pool that could’ve taken them out of larger trades for the top pitchers on the market.
But what does the trade mean
for the Yanks beyond the obvious upgrade in a black hole of a position? What does it mean for Colorado, which begins to unload from a roster that’s spiraling into one of the worst seasons in modern baseball history?
On the surface, the upgrade the Yankees made here cannot be denied. Oswald Peraza was getting the lion’s share of third base reps since DJ LeMahieu was DFA’d earlier this month, and while he’s been as advertised with the glove outside a few shaky moments, his bat is not just bad, it’s historically bad. As in, second-worst wRC+ of any Yankee ever with that many plate appearances in a season. Anyone on the market is an upgrade on that kind of production.
While McMahon isn’t close to the level of a hitter as, say, Eugenio Suarez, he’s a significantly better defender. Since 2021, the 30-year-old has 54 DRS and 42 OAA at third base, second in MLB behind another rumored target, Ke’Bryan Hayes. McMahon can also play second base in a pinch, though he’s unlikely to get much run there with Jazz Chisholm Jr. entrenched.
Ryan McMahon on a dime from foul territory pic.twitter.com/2uI6B2gL3n
— MLB (@MLB) June 20, 2024
He can certainly pick it, but can he hit? McMahon has never had a season above a 97 wRC+, but he’s spent his entire career in the confines of Coors Field. His numbers aren’t great in 2025, and his road splits are ghastly to say the least, but there’s reason to believe that they can even out once leaving Colorado. Due to the high altitude, pitches move differently in Colorado and are usually flatter, which can kill Rockies’ hitters once they go on the road and see a pitcher’s arsenal at full force; imagine having to face essentially two different kinds of pitches depending on where you’re playing at a given time. Guys like Nolan Arenado and the aforementioned LeMahieu have been able to hack it after departing Colorado, but an adjustment period might be needed.
We also need to consider McMahon’s contract. McMahon adds $16 million to the payroll for 2026 and 2027, but will fortunately only count for $11.7 million against the luxury tax. If he finds another gear away from the depressing baseball in the Mile High City, the Yankees will have a high-quality third baseman with two extra years under control. If he can’t hack it, it adds an obstacle to spending in free agency the next two winters, but not a huge one, with that $11.7 AAV not exactly unmanageable for a short term. There’s risk here committing to McMahon as he enters his early 30’s, but it’s reasonable risk to take on given the kind of upgrade the Yankees are getting in the current moment.
As for the roster fit, McMahon slots in as the everyday third baseman, adding another lefty to a lineup full of them. The fit is intriguing, as McMahon boasts a career-high 18.8 percent pulled fly ball rate and 98th percentile exit velocities. He’s been selling out for more power in 2025, leading to a career low in batting average and a career high in strikeouts and whiffs.
Jorbit Vivas is likely the roster casualty, as we’ll probably see Peraza as the backup due to his right-handed hitting and his lack of options. This could be it in terms of position players the Yanks’ acquire, but Andy Martino still thinks they could pursue a right-handed infielder to complement McMahon.
.@martinonyc reports from the Bronx on the Yankees' impending acquisition of Ryan McMahon and where the Yankees will look to upgrade next: pic.twitter.com/r2y6baP5L0
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) July 25, 2025
On the other side, the McMahon trade could be used as an opportunity to open up more playing time for the Rockies’ own prospects. While Roster Resource currently has journeyman Orlando Arcia filling the role, the team could also bring back up top prospect Adael Amador (who was optioned earlier today, oddly) and give a clearer path to fellow infield prospect Ryan Ritter, who’s currently on the IL. It also clears tens of millions off the books for 2026 and 2027. While Colorado is very far from contention, owner Dick Monfort has never been afraid to throw out some interesting contracts. For their sake, let’s not use this money to get another Kris Bryant, okay? Colorado only has an estimated $84 million as their payroll for 2026, but that’s before a few club/player options and multiple key players’ arbitration.
As for the arms they acquired, the Rockies should be excited about Griffin Herring. The 2024 sixth-round pick out of LSU has been excellent with Low-A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley this season, pitching to a combined 1.71 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 89.1 innings. He went from New York’s No. 28 prospect before the season all the way to No. 8 prior to the trade, according to MLB Pipeline.
#Yankees No. 25 prospect Griffin Herring has not allowed a run in his last 15 2/3 innings with 17 strikeouts over that span.@USAFRecruiting #AimHigh pic.twitter.com/xSrxa3x1dz
— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) June 24, 2025
Josh Grosz is an intriguing secondary piece for the Rockies. The 22-year-old has a nice mid-90s fastball and some solid secondaries that have allowed him to put up good results in A-ball. He only signed for $150,000 in the 11th round back in 2023, so solid value for the Yanks flipping their No. 21 prospect in a deadline deal.
MLB Pipeline has already updated after the trade, with Herring slotting in as Colorado’s No. 5 prospect, while Grosz is No. 18. Notably, Herring is their No. 2 pitching prospect after being No. 6 in New York.
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