Yankees trade for Ryan McMahon but his stats outside Coors Field raise big questions originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Yankees finally got their third baseman. Now comes the part where they figure out what they really got.

New York acquired Ryan McMahon from the Rockies in a deal that gives them a steady glove and a left-handed bat at a position that has been a revolving door for years. 

But McMahon’s home-road splits are hard to ignore.

According to OptaStats, 62.2 percent of McMahon’s career RBI (281 of 452) have come at Coors Field. That’s the second-highest percentage in the live-ball era for players with at least 400 career RBI, behind only former Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.

It’s not just RBI. McMahon has a career .842 OPS at home, compared to .680 on the road. He’s hit 79 of his 117 career home runs in Denver. His average away from Colorado drops nearly 40 points.

That’s a concern. 

But it wasn’t that long ago that Yankees fans were concerned if DJ LeMahieu would be able to hit outside of Coors Field. It might have ended poorly, but LeMahieu proved that not every Rockies hitter is a product of the thin air. 

And there’s also potential upside.

McMahon is a left-handed hitter with natural pull power. Yankee Stadium’s short porch in right field could help balance out the drop in production that typically follows hitters leaving Denver. He may not post Coors numbers, but he doesn’t need to.

The Yankees need more consistent offense from third base, and McMahon provides that along with elite defense and club control through 2027.

This is a calculated bet. If McMahon’s power plays in the Bronx, the home-road gap will matter less. If it doesn’t, the Yankees just committed to another long-term infield piece with questions.

The talent is there. Now we find out if it travels.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.