The Yankees’ third-base situation could be in for another shakeup, and Houston’s Isaac Paredes may end up sitting near the top of the list of possible answers.
Ryan McMahon didn’t give New York much offense in his first go-round, batting .213/.279/.357 with 11 home runs and a .635 OPS. He is owed $16 million in 2027, and even the part of his game that usually carries him - his defense - wasn’t at its usual level. That leaves the Yankees with a decision: try to move some of the salary in a trade, or find a new starter at third and keep McMahon around as a bench option.
Paredes could fit that opening. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter pointed to the Astros infielder as a possible trade chip this winter, noting Houston’s roster could be headed toward a small reset. “The Astros are at an interesting crossroads, with a starting rotation that needs to be rebuilt, aging stars like Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, and two key bats closing in on free agency in Paredes and Jeremy Peña,” Reuter wrote.
He added, “A larger rebuild would make sense, but even if they just retool, Paredes remains a logical trade candidate given the infield logjam and his one remaining year of control,” he added.
That makes him a name the Yankees have reason to monitor. In 2026, Paredes put up 25 home runs, 94 runs batted in and a 4.0 bWAR, production that would clearly look better in New York’s infield mix. It would also give the Yankees more flexibility, with McMahon, Jose Caballero and Anthony Volpe all still in the conversation at third.
Houston could decide to move Paredes before he reaches free agency in 2028, and if that happens, New York is among the teams likely to check in. The problem for the Yankees is that this winter’s free-agent class at third base is thin, with Alec Bohm and Isiah Kiner-Falefa highlighted as the top names. If New York wants a real upgrade at the hot corner, Paredes looks like one of the cleaner fits, even if it takes a prospect or two to make it happen.
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Ryan McMahons first Yankees season did not go the way anyone in the organization imagined. He struggled at third base both at the plate and in the field, and with one year left on his contract, the Yankees are already being pushed to think about what comes next rather than waiting for the fit to improve on its own. If they are going to move him, they will need a partner willing to take on a short-term answer at the hot corner, which narrows the field quickly.
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The Yankees sent Bauers to Milwaukee in a trade for Brian Sanchez and Jace Avina, and the Brewers have since gotten the better end of the deal in the short term. Bauers has fit well in Milwaukee and even chipped in during the 2024 National League Championship Series, with a free-agent decision looming next and a reminder that a player New York once had in hand could end up mattering on a bigger October stage. [Read more 🡒]