Anthony Volpe’s underwhelming season has made the shortstop a topic of controversy in the Bronx, and more attention was generated this week when it was revealed that Volpe has been playing with a small tear in his left shoulder labrum since May 3. Trying to play through this shoulder problem has clearly impacted Volpe’s performance — not only has he hit .197/.248/.378 in 418 plate appearances since suffering the injury, Volpe’s formerly excellent defense has drastically fallen off.
Speaking with ESPN’s Jorge Castillo and other reporters on Friday, Yankees GM Brian Cashman noted Volpe’s “tough stretch” and said that “this isn’t the season we expected or he expected.” That said, Cashman gave a vote of confidence to Volpe, saying that the 2025 season “doesn’t change our viewpoint of what he’s capable of,” and that he is still the Yankees’ choice at shortstop going forward.
“He’s someone that we can count on and we believe in….I think he’s a really talented guy and I think he has a chance to be a positive impact, obviously,” Cashman said.
Volpe was hitting significantly better (.239/.333/.453) in his first 135 plate appearances of the season pre-injury, so it could be that his labrum tear prevented a potential breakout year. Still, Volpe’s full-season numbers aren’t far off the .228/.288/.373 slash line he posted over 1290 PA in his first two Major League seasons, so it isn’t as if struggles at the plate are a new problem for the 24-year-old.
Outsized expectations have followed Volpe ever since his emergence as one of baseball’s top prospects, and the Yankees’ decision to debut him as their Opening Day shortstop in 2023. While the team itself has always been quick to downplay the “next Derek Jeter” hype, the Yankees’ immediate installation of Volpe in an everyday role has stood in stark contrast to the club’s more infrequent usage of most other top minor leaguers in recent years. If anything, Volpe’s critics are sure to argue that Cashman’s continued confidence in Volpe is part of the problem, and that the Yankees should be more open to upgrading at shortstop.
While Cashman has made some rather blunt critiques of other New York players in the past, it only makes sense for the GM to continue his public support of Volpe, and there isn’t any reason to yet suspect that the Yankees aren’t viewing Volpe’s rough year as anything but a by-product of his shoulder injury. Since Volpe is only entering arbitration eligibility this coming offseason, his three remaining years of pretty inexpensive team control make him an intriguing asset on a team loaded with big salaries and a hefty luxury tax bill. If Volpe is able to get healthy and break out as, in Cashman’s words, “a quality, above-average regular shortstop in the game,” that’s a major boost for the Yankees on every front.
Still, finding another inexpensive shortstop candidate could change the equation, and one such player may have already been found in Jose Caballero. Acquired from the Rays at the trade deadline, Caballero has hit .263/.358/.439 in 68 PA in the pinstripes, which far and away represents the best offensive stretch of his three MLB seasons. The utilityman has also pitched in at both corner outfield slots, second base, and third base, but most of Caballero’s time has come at shortstop in the wake of Volpe’s increased missed time.
Volpe hasn’t played since Tuesday after receiving a cortisone shot in his ailing shoulder, paving the way for Caballero to step into regular shortstop duty. Boone told Castillo and company that “we’ll see” about who plays shortstop when Volpe is ready to return, which hints that the Yankees could be considering a timeshare at the position.
The longer-term issue of Volpe’s health is also a lingering question. Cashman said more will be known once Volpe receives more tests, and while the GM “wouldn’t rule…out” an offseason surgery, “as of right now, there’s no surgery recommended. There’s not even an IL recommended.” Should Volpe indeed end up going under the knife, he’d very likely miss some time and perhaps an extended amount of the 2026 season, leaving the Yankees in need of another shortstop.
PLEASE LET HIM HEAL
I believe in Flat Earth
If RFK Jr reads this forum you should expect to be getting a job offer.
I am already employed as the CEO of the St. Louis Blues. You cannot stop me or cancel me. I’ve already photoshopped a comment of you saying racial slurs and sent it to your employer. Have fun being on the street, Globehead
Does three years count as a tough stretch?
Volpe days are numbered it’s sad but true. Hopefully, he turns it around if not trade him and Spencer Jones this off-season. Especially if Yankees keep Bellinger. Lombard is coming probably next summer, and he’s either the future 3B or SS.
Lombard is hitting .215 in Somerset, I wouldn’t count on him for next year.
@lord
In years 1 and 2 he ranks to 5 defensively. In homers and SB he ranks top 6. At age 24 earning next top nothing what’s the point in ushering him out the door so quickly when he’s had 2 out of 3 decent to above average seasons? Yanks are good enough to let him find his way.
Counter; his wRC+ past 3 years: 83, 87, 81. WAR: 1.9, 3.5, 0.6. OPS: .666, .657, .661. He’s a 2 WAR/yr player.
2 WAR is still an average MLB starter. Even if he can improve to a consistent .700 OPS and 90-95 wRC+, he’ll probably be close to a 3 win player.
16
So is he the first and only going player to hit a wall at year 3 and have to adjust to the league adjusting to them? Young guys struggle sometimes. Giving up on him and moving on could be a huge mistake. Even with his issues this year, he’s still worthy of a longer leash. He’s shown proof of what he can do, he’s going, cheap, controllable, and in a team that can obfuscate his offensive shortcomings.
16
Who were you countering (MLBTR’s reply system is trash)?
You supporter the idea that Volpe has had a decent season (1.9 WAR), an above average season (3.5 WAR) and a down season (0.6 WAR)
yes
I’m fine with giving Volpe the chance to win back the starting SS role next spring but it’s clear that Caballero should start over him for the remainder of this season
Clearly he’s a talented player, but that’s ridiculous to play him hurt all year. He got injured in the first week of May? Does Cashman not know that it’s possible to put a player on the injured list? He must feel so much pain every time he throws a ball to first.
No. The injury is to the non-throwing shoulder.
“Caballero has hit .263/.358/.439 in 68 PA in the pinstripes, which far and away represents the best offensive stretch of his three MLB seasons.”…..not true. He definitely had a better stretch in 2023.
Let him heal, find out next year whether he can start living up to his hype. The Yankees just unloaded a good part of their farm system to bring in a raft of underperforming relievers,,,and they aren’t going anywhere this year unless a miracle happens. So let the man heal.
.239 batting average is considered a “breakout” year? I guess anyone can write an article now a days. I give my opinions for free, I should start charging people
Your opinions are worth exactly what they sell for. Some may even pay to not have to read them.
LFGM
“239 batting average is considered a “breakout” year?”
No. Knowledgeable baseball people know that batting average isn’t a good stat for measuring hitting, let alone a player’s “breakout year”.
Remember the 2022 season of Cody Bellinger
Volpe would have had a great year if not for his injury and the improper treatment he got for it
Who is ‘Cody Bellinger Volpe’?
That’s so funny I forgot to laugh
No. Injured or in perfect physical condition at peak he’s not the ball player we expected him or need him to be. This is a failed prospect.
He is an adequate ball player who deserves a major league career, but not as the starting shortstop for the Yankees.
2/3 of his short 3 year career he was, at worst, a top 10 SS that last year posted a 3.5 WAR. He’s young and he’s inexpensive. Get over this idea that the Yanks need a “Jeter” to win a chip. They can absolutely win with 2024 Volpe. Honestly, give me 2024 Volpe defensively, and I can live with his bat this year because it still produced 50+ xbh.
according to his numbers, he’s not even a average offensive player for three years now
@DR
In his first 2 years, ’23 and ’24, he was 5th in defW, 6th in SB and top 15 across the board in most offensive categories. ’25 was a flop but he’s 24 and cheap. I’m willing to give him at least another full season to prove himself.
Ah the dreaded vote of confidence.
I don’t like the fact that both Judge and Volpe are not considering surgery in the off-season. That sounds like an ongoing problem next year as well
No surgery is recommended. He should insist on a surgery anyway ?
The Yankees keeping Volpe around long-term seems like a bad idea. The guy can’t hit or field cleanly, and probably never will. He should consider another career besides baseball.
What an thing to say since he had been a plus defender his first 2 seasons and a 3.5 W SS last year. He’s has a difficult 3rd year. Why drop a guy who’s shown a 3.5 potential, read GG worthy one year and is 24 and under control for 4 more seasons? It’s not like we have anyone banging on the door that’s clearly beget unless you want to splurge on Bichette this winter.
George Lumbard Jr better get a fair shake next spring training he’s on the same path volpe was and projects better.
@Jay
There’s really no similarities to their minor league resume. Volpe has been said to be a true SS defensively where Lombard may have to move 2B or 3B. Offensively, Lombard has age and good command of the strike zone. Volpe, at that age, showed the same ability to draw walks but, more importantly, showed but hitting power by posting 60 + extra base his including two 20+ homer seasons. On the contrary, Lombard has yet to have one season with 10+ homers. Volpe had a minor league career OPS in the mid 800s. Lombard’s career OPS is in the low 700s if I remember correctly. They both have shown great SB ability, too. I would stick with Volpe, then Caballero until Lombard forced me to make a move because his numbers at AA/AAA became elite.
I think not giving up on him is the right choice, but sitting him for the rest of the season would also be the right choice. He’s had a very similar start to his career as Dansby Swanson. Swanson had a .683 OPS, .290 wOBA, 75 wRC+, with +7 DRS, +3 OAA in 2680.2 innings at shortstop. Volpe has a .661 OPS, .288 wOBA, and 84 wRC+, with +21 DRS and +6 OAA in 3973 innings at shortstop.
Good thing the eyetest is subjective. Iirc, there definitley were people who were ready to move Swanson into a utility role after struggling in 2018. The comparrison still stands.
Should’ve gone to AAA for a stretch this year.
Should have been put on the IL and been given a chance to heal fully. It’s not as if riding the hot hand would hurt either. Caballero’s production since joining the Yankees would translate to 8 WAR over the course of a full season.
I really don’t get why the Yankees decided not to put Volpe on the IL. Sure, he could play thru it, but is that really worth the decrase in production on the field?
On another site, a lot of folks are clamoring that he may not actually be hurt. It’s an excuse to bench him and spare him some media scrutiny. The cons really do outweigh the pros here as you’ve noted.
Caballero has never shown any signs of being near an 8 WAR player. He’s having
a good stretch. Leave it at that.
I qualified my statement with “since joining the Yankees,” thanks. Since the playoffs are about momentum it would still make sense to start Caballero in a scenario where Volpe was healthy.
@dank
Yeah but then you tried to is that small sample size and extrapolate it over the course of a full season. that’s like saying, a guy who hits 2 homers in his first 2 game is on pace to hit 162 homers.
It’s ONLY a partially torn labrum. Anyone could excel at baseball’s highest level in the pressure cooker of the Bronx with that minor injury. Suck it up, kid, we’re trying to prove a point here.
No trip to the IL or a few weeks at Triple A to reset, figure it out at the highest stage with the pressure of being a Yankee.
Had same injury diagnosis. Couldn’t pick up a milk jug at one point. Work thought I was faking until mri a month later… for an athlete it might be less a problem but it’s a strength and painful injury. I’m not a fan of volpe and even when not injured seemed an easy out and overrated in the field like most yankes so… Yanks should keep him.
Cashman needs to follow Mo’s lead and engineer a nice farewell tour for himself. It must be exhausting having to defend your own constant screw ups. He deserves a rest.
If Yankees don’t go far in the playoffs this year, Cashman should really retire on his own. Sometimes a change at the baseball ops is needed.
Outsized expectations have followed Volpe ever since the Yankees drafted him in the first round even though he wasn’t a first round talent because his coach at Delbarton is a total Yankees fan boy and convinced them to pick him. Ugh. The poor guy grew up frightfully near where Jeter’s parent used to live just throwing a little more into the mix. Then the papers covered every move he made in the minors from day one. Just a ridiculous amount of ballyhoo over this guy.
They need to trade him to a small market team where he can thrive and win a championship. Steve Balboni comes to mind as an example.
Invoking the name of Bye-Bye Balboni. You’re absolutely right about that.
In the words of SAS: He can’t play!
Tell you what I “Believe in” Caballero. The dude plays better period. He plays like a ballplayer should.
Take out that word “despite”and I agree 💯 %.
Keep it open for Lombard next year; if he’s ready. They would be stupid to extend … well then book it they will likely extend Volpe this administration 😆
Yet another bizarro passive aggressive statement by Trashman. Just put Volpe on the IL for rest of regular season so he can heal his labrum and ego.
Hal, start looking for a new GM … PLEEEEEAAAASEEE!!!!!!
The Yankees way of shutting him down for the remainder of the season
Tough 3 year “stretch” is crazy
If his name was Antonio he would have been off the roster by now.
For everyone saying they should’ve put Volpe on the IL… put it in time and context .. who were you replacing him with? Cabelero wasn’t available yet, DJ Lenehieu was still on the team, Cabrera broke his foot, you had no one on the bench that could play short and no minor leaguer even remotely close to ready. It was May and June. If you would’ve waved a white flag on Volpe then .. the Rays would’ve jacked up the price at the deadline. The only hope was Volpe could hold up until the team could sign some reinforcements. Now should Volpe have instantly gone on the IL the second the Tampa Trade was completed…? That’s a better question.