Yankees Bench McMahon, Start Rosario at Third Base

Struggling slugger McMahon loses starting job as Rosario gets the nod at the hot corner.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 5:01pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game or match broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, forest green, and burnt orange, conceptually representing a lineup change and strategic shift for the Yankees.The Yankees' lineup shake-up at third base aims to jumpstart their struggling offense through a fresh perspective on the field.NYC Today

The New York Yankees have decided to bench struggling third baseman Ryan McMahon and instead start Amed Rosario at the hot corner. McMahon, acquired in a midseason trade last year, has been one of the worst hitters in baseball so far this season, prompting the Yankees to make the lineup change.

Why it matters

The Yankees were counting on McMahon to solidify their lineup at third base, but his poor performance has forced them to make a change. Rosario, a versatile infielder, will now get the chance to prove himself at the hot corner as the Yankees look to get their offense back on track.

The details

Through the first 20 games of the season, McMahon is batting just .156 with 1 home run and 5 RBIs. His struggles have been a major disappointment for the Yankees, who acquired him last July in the hopes that he would provide a boost to their lineup. Rosario, who has primarily played shortstop and second base in his career, will now get the opportunity to show what he can do at third base.

  • The lineup change will take effect starting with the Yankees' game on April 7, 2026.

The players

Ryan McMahon

A third baseman acquired by the Yankees in a midseason trade last year, who has struggled mightily at the plate so far this season.

Amed Rosario

A versatile infielder for the Yankees who will now get the chance to start at third base in place of the struggling McMahon.

New York Yankees

The Major League Baseball team based in New York City that is making the lineup change at third base.

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What they’re saying

“We need to get the offense going, and we think Amed gives us the best chance to do that right now at third base.”

— Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager

What’s next

The Yankees will continue to monitor McMahon's progress and performance, and could potentially revisit the lineup decision if he is able to turn things around at the plate.

The takeaway

This lineup change highlights the Yankees' willingness to make tough decisions in order to improve their team's performance. The move to bench the struggling McMahon in favor of the versatile Rosario shows that the team is focused on finding the best possible solutions to get their offense back on track.