The New York Yankees head into September with a playoff berth already secured and a chance to chase the top seed in the American League East, but roster questions remain as they try to get healthy and stay balanced.
The club sits at 80-60 and trails the Tampa Bay Rays by three games in the division. New York opens a three-game series Friday in San Diego against the Padres after taking a series from the Los Angeles Angels.
Aaron Judge is expected back from the injured list soon. That return will force a corresponding roster move, and the Yankees must decide which player comes off the 26-man roster.
Amed Rosario has struggled at the plate and remains a candidate to be designated for assignment. SNY insider Chelsea Janes has also floated a more surprising possibility involving third baseman Ryan McMahon.
“Ryan McMahon’s defense at third base is probably too important to the success of key pitchers like Max Fried to leave off the roster due to his inconsistency offensively. But I could see them making that decision if they are worried about being too left-handed,” Janes wrote.
McMahon signed a six-year, $70 million contract that is now in its fifth season. He is owed $16 million in 2027, so cutting him loose would carry a significant financial cost.
His glove has been the main reason he has stayed in the lineup. The left-handed hitter has shown flashes of power but has never found consistent production since arriving in the Bronx.
This season McMahon is batting .217 with 10 home runs and 32 RBIs. Those numbers have done little to quiet questions about his bat, which has been a concern throughout his Yankees tenure.
He is a former All-Star, yet the club’s current mix of left-handed hitters could push decision-makers to look for more balance if they believe the lineup has become too one-sided.
An infielder is widely expected to be the player who loses his roster spot when Judge returns. Whether that player is Rosario or McMahon will depend on how much the Yankees value defense versus offensive balance.
Manager Aaron Boone has expressed confidence in the group as the calendar turns to the final month of the regular season.
“We’ve got a great opportunity in front of us,” Boone said. “Put ourselves in position — like I’ve said a lot — to realize all our hopes and dreams and our goals. But we’ve got to play well, and hopefully, we’re at our best when it matters the most. Feel good about our group. Feel good about hopefully some of the guys that will get back sprinkled in this month.”
The Yankees have played well of late and enter the Padres series looking to close the gap on Tampa Bay. How they handle the impending roster crunch could shape the club’s look heading into October.
