The Yankees made a smart, low-cost move at the trade deadline, acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz. Herring was ranked as the #8 prospect in the system, while Grosz was ranked #21.

McMahon is hitting just .217 this season with 16 home runs, 35 RBI, and a .717 OPS, but this trade is all about upside and fit. The Rockies have been a mess for years, and sometimes a player just needs to get out of a losing environment to find his game again. A change of scenery might be exactly what McMahon needs, especially moving from Colorado to a win-now atmosphere in New York.

He’s also under team control through 2027, which adds value. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s the Yankees’ third baseman of the future, but it gives them flexibility. If he hits, they can keep him. If not, they didn’t give up any of their truly core prospects to find out.

Defensively, McMahon is a clear upgrade. The Yankees have to stop rolling Oswald Peraza out there and pretending like it’s working. This move tightens up the infield and gives the lineup a lefty with some pop who has a real glove.

Overall, this is a win. Not a blockbuster. Not a needle-mover. But a win. The Yankees addressed a problem area, didn’t overpay, and added a player who might thrive in a new setting. That’s exactly the kind of move smart teams make at the deadline.