Yankees Linked to Questionable $38 Million Move at Third Base

The New York Yankees need to do something about third base this offseason, as they simply cannot go into next year with Ryan McMahon as their full-time starter.

The problem is that the free-agent market is incredibly thin at the position, and the trade block doesn't seem to have any truly interesting names. At least not yet.

But could the Yankees actually take a stab at Alec Bohm?

Phillip Martinez of SNY thinks so, naming Bohm as a potential candidate for New York heading into the winter.

Bohm is certainly an interesting case.

The former first-round pick has not lived up to expectations on the big-league level. His bat has been wildly inconsistent, and his defense leaves much to be desired.

But the Yankees may not have any other enticing options.

So could Bohm actually represent a potential target for New York?

The 29-year-old slashed .249/.315/.383 with 15 home runs and 88 RBI over 629 plate appearances this season, although it should be noted he was considerably better in the second half with a .794 OPS.

Spotrac is projecting Bohm to land a three-year, $37.8 million deal on the open market, which is not terribly pricy.

However, Bohm's frustrating career makes it a questionable fit.

He showed significant promise early on, batting .338 with an .881 OPS during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, but he hasn't come close to approaching those numbers since.

Bohm topped out at 20 homers in 2023, and he never hit more than 15 in any other campaign. His 6.6 percent walk rate is also rather unsightly, and his lifetime .309 BABIP is a clear indication that he hasn't been getting unlucky.

Now, the one saving grace for Bohm is his ability to hit lefties, which is where he could come into play for a Yankees squad that has struggled against southpaws.

Bohm registered an .816 OPS versus left-handers in 2026, and he is a career .302/.351/.503 hitter in those situations.

So could New York sign Bohm and then potentially platoon him with McMahon at the hot corner? Or maybe bring in another left-handed-hitting third baseman to replace McMahon in that scenario?

Bohm isn't going to be anyone's favorite solution. He is an average hitter, at best, and his defense is subpar. But he's a better option than most of what's out there, and if the Yankees choose to dump McMahon altogether, Bohm would comprise an upgrade.