With Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Trent Grisham all question marks for the postseason, Aaron Boone will need to press all the right buttons to get the Yankees across the finish line.
One of the biggest dilemmas for Boone will come at the hot corner, a position that has troubled the Bronx Bombers all year long. Five different Yankees have logged innings at third this year, and there could be even more options than that this fall. But which player is going to give the pinstriped outfit the best chance to win a World Series?
McMahon has been, for the most part, the Yankees’ everyday third baseman this year. He’s been platooned against some left-handers, but he’s been more or less a steady fixture in Aaron Boone’s lineup card.
A glove-first third baseman by trade, the Yankees knew they weren’t getting a perennial slugger when they acquired him last summer. However, it’s unlikely that they foresaw the former Colorado man struggling quite this much at the plate.
McMahon’s 73 wRC+ in 2026 is the lowest mark of any Yankee with 350 plate appearances in a season since 2017. He is also the only qualified hitter with a sub-.280 OBP and a strikeout rate over 29%.
However, the glove has always been his saving grace. Yankees fans can always rely on McMahon to play Gold Glove-caliber defense at the hot corner. Or can they? In the past two weeks, the 31-year-old’s defense has spiraled. Several plays that he has previously made look routine have gotten the better of him, his bunt defense has been lacking, and he generally just looks much less inspiring with the glove.
McMahon’s lack of offensive prowess means that, if he is not defending at a high level, there is simply no reason to have him in the lineup. Manager Aaron Boone seems to recognize this fact, as he has sat McMahon in several games as of late.
Combine his struggles on both sides of the ball with a left-handed-heavy Boston pitching staff, and it’s clear why the Yankees are beginning to explore other options at third.
Normally a Swiss Army knife off the bench, Jose Caballero has been called upon to step in at third quite often amid McMahon’s struggles. The 30-year-old is undoubtedly a valuable asset to the squad, but whether he is worthy of the everyday third base job is up in the air.
Caballero has slashed .235/.292/.370 this season, posting career highs in HR (14) and RBI (51). He’s also continued to be a menace on the base paths, as he boasts 34 stolen bases this year. His defense has been a surprise at third base, as he has graded out above average at the position despite a relatively weak arm.
Caballero has been serviceable for sure, but he is definitely a profile more suited to being a plug-and-play guy who can come on as a baserunning threat late. Useful to have in October, but not ideal to be your everyday starter at third.
Known affectionately as the Yankees’ hype man, Rosario has served as the primary platoon partner with Ryan McMahon at third this year. His offensive numbers are a bit lower than usual, as he is hitting just .233 with a sub-.700 OPS. Particularly concerning is his lack of effectiveness against left-handers, given the fact that this is essentially the sole reason the Yankees signed him in the offseason.
A career .287 hitter against southpaws, Rosario has only managed a measly .201 average against lefties this year. Even with the struggles, he still gets his fair share of at-bats against lefties as a platoon player. One would expect that to continue in October, primarily as a pinch-hitter late.
That’s precisely what Amed Rosario is. He’s not a guy who will start every day, nor should he. An effective bat off the bench, but he struggles in the field, and there are simply better options to start day in and day out.
Last but not least is Anthony Volpe, who is set to see some time at the hot corner in the last few games of the regular season. It seems like the Yankees are trying to gauge whether he can be a viable option there in a postseason setting. The 25-year-old saw brief action at third in the minors this year, seeming comfortable there.
It seems like a logical test for the former first-rounder. Aaron Boone confirmed that Jazz Chisholm will not shuffle positions after returning from the IL, meaning Volpe will find playing time at second base hard to come by. Why not give him a shot at third in games that, mathematically and realistically, don’t matter?
Volpe seems to have figured something out at the plate, as he has looked much more comfortable since returning to the majors earlier this month. Given that Judge and Stanton are huge question marks for the Wild Card, the Yankees are going to want as much right-handed hitting firepower as they can get their hands on. If Volpe is able to play a serviceable third base, another option opens up for Aaron Boone and co.
Push comes to shove, a smart man would wager Ryan McMahon to be the go-to at third base in October. Despite recent struggles, he is still the player most familiar with the position and has been the primary starter all year long. However, it is clear the Yankees are exploring their options. Don’t be surprised to see Caballero or Rosario in there against a tough lefty, or potentially even the outside pick of Anthony Volpe.
In all likelihood, third base will turn into a glorified merry-go-round this October. McMahon may well start the majority of the games just to be yanked in high-leverage offensive spots, or it might just be a straight platoon. It’s a huge question mark for the Yankees this October, and it’s one they’ll need to figure out to make a run at the ultimate prize.
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