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Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks down into his bullpen against the Oakland Athletics in the bottom of the eighth inning at RingCentral Coliseum on August 27, 2022 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The New York Yankees are enduring their first real ‘rough stretch’ of the 2026 MLB season. The past week or so has shown some of the Yankees’ biggest flaws, which include an upgrade at third base. Ryan McMahon is not cutting it anymore at the hot corner. McMahon has an OPS+ of 57 over 169 At-Bats.

A recent MLB mock trade by SI.com’s Ryan Shea features the Yankees making a move for the San Francisco Giants‘ $313 million infielder Rafael Devers. Devers has been off to a slow start this season, but he’s certainly due for positive regression, which is already taking shape. As bad as Devers has started this season, he has 14 extra-base hits compared to McMahon’s six, and think about how well Devers would perform in Yankee Stadium.

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Should the Yankees Target a Third Baseman Via Trade?

GettyRafael Devers could be a trade candidate if the Giants keep struggling. Perhaps the Yankees could make a bad-contract swap to land him.

Rafael Devers’ name has popped up in some trade speculation talk, but it was mostly due to his struggles at the plate, and it remains unclear if the Giants actually would consider moving on from him.

However, Ryan Shea proposes this three-player package that might be able to get a deal done for Devers: LHP Brock Selvidge, RHP Chase Hampton, OF Jace Avina

No matter how far-fetched Yankees fans may think this proposal is, one thing remains true, and that’s the fact that New York can’t keep running Ryan McMahon out every day, as he’s essentially a black hole in the lineup.

So maybe the Yankees don’t necessarily need to trade for Rafael Devers, but they absolutely need an upgrade at third base.

And the package that Shea proposes isn’t loaded with some of the Yankees’ top trade assets like Spencer Jones, Jasson Dominguez, or Elmer Rodriguez. The only reason the Yankees pop up as a potential candidate for Rafael Devers is that they are one of the few teams that can actually afford his contract.

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Will the Giants Trade Rafael Devers?

If the Giants, who continue to lose and fall in the standings, think about selling at the MLB trade deadline, it will be very interesting to see if they think about moving on from Rafael Devers.

FanSided.com’s Brian Burrows wrote (on May 16):

“Just as it’s been a rough start to 2026 in Boston, it’s been a rough start in San Fran, too. They are 18-26 to start the season, and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale just released a damning report. In his “MLB trade deadline: Five teams to watch as executives weigh in on wild scenarios” article, Nightengale reported that the Giants would love to move Devers, as well as their other big-money contracts.”

Again, if the Giants actually do become sellers, it’s going to be Rafael Devers and Robbie Ray as the two names at the forefront of speculation as rumors. Would the Yankees consider trading for Devers? That remains unknown, but what is clear is that the Yankees need an upgrade at third base.

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