The southward journey of the Yankees is on. Now trailing the AL East-leading Blue Jays by six games, the Bronx Bombers are watching their season tilt dangerously toward freefall. Since June 28th, the Yankees’ bullpen has posted a dismal 7.02 ERA, surrendering 64 earned runs over just 82 innings—a staggering collapse for a team built on pitching depth. And well, a shaky bullpen hasn’t helped.

With the trade deadline fast approaching, it seemed all but certain that the Yankees would be scouting the market for reliable arms to salvage their spiraling campaign. But in a move that raised eyebrows, the Bombers made their first big swing by acquiring slugger Ryan McMahon. A curious call when the team is visibly gasping for pitching reinforcements. So, what exactly is the plan with the deadline looming? Manager Aaron Boone has something to say about that.

“You know, Devin’s really throwing the ball well. I feel like Weave is too, and Hill and Hammy’s been, you know, up and down a little bit. We’ve seen some good from him. But again, like getting him into some tough situations where he’s facing some hitters in situations where it’s tough just because we’re a little short. We’ve got to get low going. So, you know, it’s a challenge right now, but we’ve got to have guys step up,” Boone said just before the opener against the Phillies.

Earlier this month, the Yankees GM Brian Cashman stated that pitching and bullpen reinforcements would be the team’s priority heading into the trade deadline. When asked if he was on the same page, Boone answered, “Yeah, look, all lines are in the water right now. You know, all teams are there’s a lot of talk and you know, so we’ll you never know what’s going to happen.“

While Boone feels the some of the pitchers are stepping up, is that the reality?

Well, the optimism about Devin Williams is understandable. Sure, his 4.70 ERA and 51 SOs aren’t exactly eye-popping, but his recent turnaround is definitely worth noting. After his first 14 outings, his ERA had ballooned to a whopping 10.03. But fast forward to now, with 42 appearances, he’s managed to bring that number down to 4.70. Since his 15th outing, he’s posted a solid 2.36 ERA with 38 SOs. That’s a huge improvement.

But Luke Weaver’s situation isn’t quite as encouraging, especially after his most recent outing against the Phillies. He turned a one-run Yankees lead into a three-run hole in what ended up being a 12-5 loss to the Phillies on Friday night. And guess what, it’s not just that one game. So far this month, Weaver has allowed seven runs in just 1 2/3 innings across three appearances.

Also, Boone mentioned that Tim Hill and Ian Hamilton were a little short, but the results say otherwise. Hill gave up two earned runs against the Phillies. And just when the Yankees had clawed back to make it 6-5, Hamilton gave up a two-run homer to Kyle Schwarber in the eighth that essentially shut the door.

So, there’s no doubt that the Yankees are in search of pitching names. And, they have been linked with a few recently, but for now, what we’ve got is a slugger. And Boone is confident if McMahon can get going, the team will benefit.

Yankees are banking on Ryan McMahon

Aaron Boone feels that if McMahon can be positioned right in the team, he’s going to be a real asset for the Yankees. He even shared his own history to relate to McMahon.

“I think it helps having gone through it as a player. I was acquired at the deadline. So it’s something that I’m very sensitive to and try to be really understanding. Everyone’s different, and you’re leaving a place maybe where you’ve been your entire career. So hopefully, the environment is a great thing for him that he falls into that and doesn’t have to be the guy, and just goes to do your thing. But it’s our job, my job, staff, coaches, players to make sure they’re first of all welcomed and get them as comfortable as possible as soon as possible,” he said.

McMahon had a 9-year stint with the Rockies since debuting in 2017, but now he’s wearing pinstripes. His overall numbers this season don’t really jump off the page, as he’s slashing .217/.314/.403 with 16 HRs and 35 RBIs. But he’s still on track for his sixth 20-homer campaign. And lately, he’s been heating up at the plate also.

Over his last nine games, McMahon is hitting .313 with a slugging percentage of .750, and he’s knocked four HRs and driven in nine runs during that stretch.

However, what really makes McMahon stand out is his glove. He’s elite at third base, and his OAA ranks in the 91st percentile. Moreover, he hasn’t dipped below the 90th percentile since the 2020 shortened season. So, he’s one of the best defensive infielders in the game. Given the defensive miscues the Yankees have dealt with recently, adding someone as steady and reliable as McMahon is a move that makes a lot of sense. What do you think?