McMahon Challenges Former Rockie Arenado for Gold Glove

A former big-league general manager was at Coors Field during the past season, working on a broadcast of a visiting team, when the subject of Ryan McMahon, who was taking over at third base in place of annual Gold Glove winner Nolan Arenado.

“He is a below average defensive player,” said the ex-general manager.

Apparently others have a different opinion.

McMahon is among three finalists for the NL Gold Glove for third baseman. Now, the competition is challenging. Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, whose void McMahon filled after Arenado was traded by the Rockies, and Manny Machado of the Padres are the two other finalists.

The 2021 Fielding Awards will be announced Nov. 7 at 6:30 MST on ESPN. Major League managers and coaches, voting only within their league and unable to vote for players on their own teams, account for 75 percent of the selection process. The other 25 percent goes to the sabermetrics community.

Arenado won the award in each of his first eight big-league seasons, which would seem to give him an edge, and Machado was a two-time winner when he played for Baltimore in the American League.

McMahon, who also put in time in the first half of the season at second base, matches up with Arenado pretty well in various statistical analytics that have been created in recent years. McMahon and Arenado both had a 10 ranking in OAA (Outs Above Average). Machado had three.

Ke’ Bryan Hayes of the Pirates actually led the NL with a 13 OAA ranking.

McMahon, however had a major edge in DRS (defensive runs saved) with 22, combining his play at second base and third base. That led all players. His third base ranking was 13 compared to a 6 for Arenado. Marchado also had a rating of six.