$32m front office ‘blunder’ feels heat as top MLB prospect may force Yankees’ hand

Apr 9, 2026 - 11:15

Within the New York Yankees’ excellent start to 2025, one player isn’t quite living up to expectations.

The Yankees currently sit top of the American League East, with an 8-3 record in their chase for ring number 28.

David Bednar #53 and Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees celebrate the win over the Athletics at Yankee Stadium on April 07, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The New York Yankees defeated the Athletics 5-3. — The Yankees are off to a fast start in 2026

New York’s offense currently ranks ninth across the league, a good sign given the fact multiple stars, including Aaron Judge, are off to slow starts.

2025 trade deadline acquisition Ryan McMahon has also gotten off to a notably slow start to the season, so much so that people are beginning to examine the trade.

“The Yankees will be paying Ryan McMahon $32 million over the next two seasons,” Everything Yankees posted on X.

“Brian Cashman ate the entirety of the contract from the Rockies, a massive blunder.”

The 31-year-old is hitting .077 with two RBIs and 13 strikeouts through the first 11 games of the season.

His slump has caught the attention of manager Aaron Boone, who jumped to the defense of his third-baseman.

“I mean, Mac’s a good major league hitter. It’s been 10 games in, okay?” Boone said, via New York Daily News beat writer Gary Phillips.

“He’s scuffling right now, but the reality is, the last 3 games, he’s been on base four times two with walks and hits in big at bats.

“We want him to improve even who he’s been obviously in his career, he’s off to a slow start right now, but a number of our guys are as well.

“He’ll get rolling, and trust that he will, especially against some of these good right-handed matchups.”

Ryan McMahon #19 of the New York Yankees celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run in the top of the second inning during the game between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. — Ryan McMahon has struggled at the plate since joining the Yankees mid-way through the 2025 season

Manager, Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice before the game against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on April 4, 2026 in New York, New York. — Boone has jumped to the defense of his third-baseman, insisting it’s still early.

Yankees top prospect tipped to replace McMahon by All-Star break

The Yankees will know that it’s early, but in such a competitive division, they won’t be able to sit on their hands for too long.

McMahon’s Yankee sample-size is getting bigger. He hit just .208 in 54 games when the trade with the Colorado Rockies was finalized.

A slow start to his Yankee career may force the team to make a difficult decision in their infield, one in which The Athletic’s Jim Bowden predicted pre-season.

“Yankees’ top prospect George Lombard Jr. is called up before the All-Star break and becomes the everyday third baseman for New York for the remainder of the season,” Bowden wrote.

It was a bold prediction at the time, but now looks more possible thanks to the start the 20-year-old is having at Double-A.

Lombard Jr. is slashing .467/.529/.867 with seven hits, three doubles and a home run through Somerset’s first four games of the season.

George Lombard Jr. #33 of the New York Yankees jogs to the dugout during the third inning of a Spring Breakout game against the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. — Lombard Jr. is tearing the cover off the ball in Double-A, increasing the likelihood of a 2026 MLB debut

The Yankees top prospect also impressed in Spring Training, but despite that, there was never any serious consideration that he would break camp with the club.

If Lombard Jr. continues his scorching start, and McMahon continues to struggle, Yankees brass could be facing a tough conversation with the man they traded for last season.

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