The New York Yankees were presumed as the favorites to trade for third baseman Eugenio Suarez.
But the Yanks went a different direction at the hot corner on Friday, landing Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies.
It may have just come down to what value the Yankees and competing teams were offering for the two third basemen. But there's also another reason why this McMahon deal could've appealed to New York in the long run.
Suarez is on an expiring contract. McMahon is under contract through 2027.
The Yankees haven't just solved third base for the rest of this season. They've solved it for the next two seasons, too.
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McMahon is owed $16 million in 2026 and another $16 million in 2027.
That's totally fair value for a player of his offensive and defensive caliber.
If the Yankees had gotten Suarez and wanted to keep him, he'd likely have commanded $20-25 million per year on a medium-length deal this offseason.
Instead, McMahon is already set in stone for what his salary will be through 2027. That's plenty important for the Yankees.
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