By Aaliyan MohammedShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe New York Yankees stuck by Anthony Volpe last season despite some bad defense and continued offensive struggles. However, they will not be able to justify sticking by him for too long.
Volpe has not really produced offensively in any season in his young career. He has won a Gold Glove and came into the season viewed as a solid defender. However, he led the league in errors last season. His defensive decline, paired with his poor offensive output, gives the Yankees very little reason to stick with him.
Regardless, Volpe was the starting shortstop for most of the year, playing through a shoulder injury. He had surgery in the offseason and could miss the start of next season. However, Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman have noted that he is expected to remain the starter upon his return. The Athletic's Chris Kirschner revealed when the Yankees may actually start looking at replacements.
..."If Volpe is a similar player to what he was in 2025 — a poor hitter and a poor defender — the Yankees don’t have much choice but to start considering other long-term options," wrote Kirschner. "Suppose Volpe is ineffective upon his return from offseason shoulder surgery. We might start to see him lose playing time to José Caballero, who can fill in at the position. But we’re likely at least one more season away from the Yankees exploring external options."
The Yankees acquired Caballero at the trade deadline, and he was a solid player for the team. He led baseball in stolen bases and slashed .266/.372/.456 in 40 games. He is expected to see most of the run at shortstop while Volpe is hurt, but could go back to a bench role when Volpe is healthy.
Volpe appears to have the keys at shortstop for at least next season, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for the Yankees to justify sticking with him, given the availability of Caballero and external options.
More MLB: Yankees Projected To Sign Ace To 6-Year, $114 Million Deal After ALDS Exit
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
MLBPhillies Lose Pitcher to $1 Million Contract in Free Agency2 min read
MLBMets Lose Veteran Pitcher in Free Agency3 min read
MLBYankees Insider Shares Simple Reason Cody Bellinger May Leave New York2 min read
MLBOne-Time Tigers 1st-Round Pick Signs With NL East Team2 min read
MLBWhy Blue Jays Could Lose Bo Bichette in Free Agency, per Insider2 min read
MLBYankees Projected To Sign Ace To 6-Year, $114 Million Deal After ALDS Exit2 min readRelated Podcasts
Top Stories
NewsThe Motive Behind the National Guard Shooting: What We Know6 min read
NewsUncommon Knowledge: Trump Closes Venezuelan Airspace, but Not NATO Airspace5 min read
NewsTrump Issues New Warning to Israel Over Its Actions in Syria4 min read
WorldRepublicans Demand Probe into Pete Hegseth’s Boat Strikes5 min read
PoliticsDonald Trump Suffers Blow in Alina Habba Case4 min read
U.S.What the US Supreme Court Has Said About Denaturalization7 min readTrending
FloridaAmazon Driver Sees Food Left for Stray Cats—Ring Cam Captures What He Does3 min read
NWSWinter Storm Warning as 8 Inches of Snow to Hit North and Midwest3 min read
Delta AirlineDelta Air Lines Plane Slides Off Runway During Winter Storm1 min read
WeatherWinter Storm Warning As 13 Inches of Snow To Strike: ‘Extreme Caution’3 min read
Donald TrumpMap Shows Donald Trump’s Approval Rating in Each State After 10 Months4 min readOpinion
OpinionForeign Energy Companies Have No Home in Our Forests | Opinion4 min read
OpinionThe Hemp Ban Shows America Still Works | Opinion4 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Somali Minnesota Welfare Fraud Edition4 min read
OpinionRedefining Professional Degrees Will Hurt Everyday Americans | Opinion5 min read
OpinionAI Is Coming for Our Most Intimate Communications. Congress Must Act | Opinion5 min read
