Andres Chavez
On Tuesday, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone did that thing he does—dropping a bombshell with the casual tone of a man ordering a latte. Per Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, he said he’s “comfortable” with Ryan McMahon playing shortstop if the season started today. Comfortable? I’m not sure the fans share that warm, fuzzy feeling.
The metrics from the back fields in Tampa haven’t exactly been kind. McMahon has looked like a man trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube while running a marathon. His internal clock is clearly set to “Third Base Time,” which is a luxury you don’t have when a ball is sizzling toward the 6-hole.
In two spring appearances at the position, it became apparent that, even though he is a fantastic defensive third baseman, the same can’t be said about shortstop. We are talking about a guy who has spent his career being a vacuum at the hot corner, but the middle infield is a different beast entirely.
Roster Gymnastics Are Behind The Plan
The logic here is a classic Brian Cashman special: roster gymnastics. The Yankees are probably desperate to squeeze every ounce of offensive utility onto this bench, specifically the veteran Randal Grichuk. By forcing McMahon to be the “break glass in case of emergency” guy at short, they can carry a bench that features Grichuk, Paul Goldschmidt, Amed Rosario, and JC Escarra.
It’s a murderer’s row of reserves. On paper, it looks like a powerhouse. In reality, it leaves the infield defense hanging by a very thin, very risky thread.
We have to talk about why this hole exists in the first place. Anthony Volpe is still on the shelf, rehabbing a shoulder surgery from October that has his return date floating somewhere in late April or May. The kid was hitting at a 115 wRC+ clip before the injury turned his 2025 season into a slog.
Until he’s back, the keys belong to Jose Caballero. Now, Caballero is a spark plug. He swiped 49 bags last year and played a hell of a shortstop for the Yankees after coming over from Tampa. But if “Cabby” tweaks a hamstring on a cold night in the Bronx, the plan is Ryan McMahon. It’s a risk the Yankees are willing to take.
The Yankees Want Grichuk’s Bat Vs. Lefties
Grichuk is the reason for this still unofficial, but likely decision. The Yankees want his bat, and for good reason. Even in a down 2025, the guy has a career 118 wRC+ against lefties. He’s the short-side platoon piece they’ve been craving. But to get him on the flight to the West Coast for the opener against the Giants, someone has to be the sacrificial lamb.
In this case, it’s the concept of a “true” backup shortstop. They are betting the house that Caballero stays healthy and Volpe heals fast.
It is a gamble that defines the current era of Yankees baseball. They are willing to sacrifice defensive certainty for the hope of a big swing from a veteran bench bat. McMahon is a pro, and maybe he settles in with more reps, but the margin for error is razor-thin.
If the Yankees find themselves in a tight game in April and a ball clanks off a converted third baseman’s glove, nobody is going to be talking about Randal Grichuk’s splits against southpaws. They’ll, in all likelihood, be asking why a team with a $300 million payroll didn’t have a guy who actually knows where to stand at shortstop.
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