Anthony Volpe spent much of the 2025 season playing through a partially torn left labrum, and the Yankees shortstop addressed the problem in the form of a surgical procedure yesterday, according to Joel Sherman and Greg Joyce of the New York Post. The exact timeline for Volpe’s recovery isn’t yet clear, but if everything goes normally, a source tells Sherman/Joyce that Volpe would be ready for the start of the 2026 season.
The injury to Volpe’s non-throwing shoulder occurred in early May, when Volpe said he heard “a pop” in his shoulder after diving to try and snag a grounder. What seemed like a minor issue at the time ended up being a lingering source of discomfort throughout the season, and Volpe received two cortisone shots (one at the All-Star break, one in September) to try and manage the pain. The Yankees never placed Volpe on the injured list, but he didn’t play for the week following his second shot in September.
It is impossible to think that the injury didn’t contribute to Volpe’s tough season. He hit .212/.272/.391 with 19 home runs over 596 plate appearances, resulting in just an 83 wRC+. While these numbers weren’t far off what Volpe produced when healthy in 2023-24, it is worth noting that April (prior to the shoulder issue) was far and away Volpe’s best offensive month of 2025. The bigger impact may have come defensively, as Volpe dropped to -7 Outs Above Average and +2 Defensive Runs Saved — middling metrics for a shortstop who was a Gold Glove winner in 2023 and a finalist for the award again in 2024.
Volpe’s struggles made him a particular target for fan criticism in the Bronx, and something of an avatar for the fanbase’s frustrations towards GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone. There has yet to be any sign that Volpe’s starting job might be in danger, though Jose Caballero provided a big spark to the lineup after being acquired at the trade deadline, and getting a good dose of time at shortstop while Volpe was sidelined in September.
More will be known about Volpe’s recovery process in the coming weeks, but if he has any kind of setback, the Yankees could be encouraged to pursue at least a depth option at shortstop this winter if Caballero isn’t entrusted with the starting job. There will certainly be more speculation about whether or not the Yankees could land a bigger-name shortstop in a larger shake-up for the position, but it doesn’t feel like the Yankees would be inclined to move on entirely from Volpe, due to his former top-prospect status and the team’s three remaining years of control over his services. Volpe is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter, and projected to earn $3.9MM in 2026.
What about the Captain? Don’t wait until it gets worse. I still say unload Stanton and DH Judge. Go trade for Kwan. Trade Dominez and Jones. Yankees desperately need a legitimate lead-off hitter for over a decade.
Stanton is going no where. Get it out of your head.
Kwan was a league average hitter this year. You sure you want to give up a lot for him?
@kevnames42
And he barely walked, too.
His legs don’t work?
No one is taking Stanton, that contract or his injuries. Stanton has no ability to run and hasn’t played a full season in 4 years.
Wear your mill stone proudly Yankee fans. This along with the other dead wood is what is killing this team.
Dogs call people out individually. Most of us not only understand he isn’t going anywhere but also understand he usually comes up big in the playoffs and we’re ok with him. Of the Yankees problems, Stanton is a very small one.
“This along with the other dead wood is what is killing this team.”
This is a very strange comment, you must be a Rays fan.
Anyway, imagine how good the Yankees would be if they didn’t have this deadwood. I guess they would have won a 120 games than a mere 94. If this is your premise, then as a Yankee fan, I agree. 94 wins is pathetic.
Why would you make judge a full time DH? The Yankees already have too many DH-types. You’d be putting yourself in the same situation you are right now with Stanton by making Judge a DH only. They need versatility and guys that put up quality at bats rather than feast or famine type by striking out or popping up in key situations
Good luck “unloading” stanton with a full no trade clause
Why not just sign Arraez?
Driving home this evening,
Could have sworn we had it all worked out.
Bryan, is that you?
Stanton, Dominguez, and Rice for Tatis, Cronenworth, and a low level prospect.
Pads would be giving up about 6 WAR, for 4.5 from the Yanks coming over, but would fill their LF, DH (until Stanton gets hurt), and 1b/C spots.
The Yanks would get a gold glove leadoff man, and a solid bat (2 time all star) who can start anywhere on the IF, who are both controllable for years. Then, they could go after Schwarber or Alonso, and have a top 4 of Tatis, Judge, Schwarber/Alonso, Jazz.
Stanton has a full no trade clause. he’s had it for the entire contract. Why do people keep saying get rid of Stanton? Not happening unless they release him which is silly as he can still hit. Two more years or maybe they release him if he completely stops hitting but given their history the earliest this will happen is next year
Volpe having surgery means no way he will be traded this off season as who would possibly take him with health uncertain and poor performance. Yanks are counting on George Lombard to take over at some point in 2027 if there is a season. Next year Volpe and Caballero will fight it out
Volpe’s value is at all-time low so the Yankees can’t get any interesting player(s) back.
Yeah you know teams were just lining up for Volpe after his .212/.272/.391 with an 89 OPS+ and a league leading 19 errors at the second most important position on the field.
They didn’t want him pre surgery, during surgery, or post surgery.
@mlb
STANTON HAS S NO TRADE
How many times does that hadn’t to be reminded to ppl?
Reminder: He can waive it if he’s willing to go somewhere else.
None of it matters because there is NO way anyone is taking Stanton’s contract off the Yankees’ hands. They could pay like 75% of it and I doubt they’d find many suitors even then. He’ll be a year older on legs that can’t run or play defense. He looked great early on when he was back but faded towards the end of the year. He’ll be one year older and all the questions of health and regression will remain.
You also have to consider the fact that teams generally like to cycle players into the DH spot too. Judge could barely throw a baseball after his injury but he was still forced to play defense because Stanton has nowhere else to go and they don’t want his bat being used just as a pinch hitter.
The good news is he’s only on the hook for two more years ($19m in ’26 and $15m in ’27 – although lux hit is still $22m both seasons). If he really starts to decline, I wouldn’t be shocked if he gets DFA’s before that contract is done.
Injury sure didn’t stop him from swinging!
Reports of Volpe’s injury started going around in July. The Yankees traded for Caballero and still made Volpe play through injury. The way they handle injuries will never make sense to me
I mistakenly thought that they used it as an excuse to bench him. Oops.
Poor kid, had to basically play through an injury and it’s probably a factor for his horrible slash line. That being said, I think he should be traded. He needs a change of scenery and to get away from the Yankees.
Nice to see players playing through injuries. Nowadays, most of the guys get a paper cut opening their paycheck and need to go on the DL for at least 3-6 months.
Anthony Rendon has entered the chat!
Actually – its the team that makes the decision to DL a player or not. Its a medical decision made by team doctors most of the time and by the GM to manipulate the roster the rest of the time.
He probably should’ve went on the IL considering he hurt the team more than he helped it. Seen by his 11% below average offensive output and the league leading amount of errors he committed.
I understand the sentiment – be tough! Earn the paycheck! It’s a kid’s game!
Simply him being out there hurt his team down the stretch. Should’ve taken some time off.
That might explain his poor performance.
He’s gonna need a LOT more than that to not suck.
Volpe had 11 at bats in the Toronto series with 8 strikeouts. He should have not been in the lineup. He was the hole that knocked them out of the series. They lost because of the guy putting the lineup card together.
As an athlete with an athletic injury, Volpe legitimately needed surgery, obviously, but this will not magically make him a better athlete.
I think at his healthiest Volpe is not the quality the Yankees need as a starting shortstop and they need to move on from him, no matter what.
If the doctors are good at their job and he comes out of that surgery wearing a different uniform I’ll then say it was a success.
Volpe was injured, presumably this will take care of it, in time to get him the Spring Training and ideally so he can recapture some of the promise folks ascribed to him. Don’t dump him. I don’t get the Stanton hate. He had 24HR and an OPS+ of 158–that’s not that easy to find out there–and he has a guaranteed contract. Yes, the Yankees should never made the trade in the first place, but you don’t just cut that type of production loose.
The Volpe problem is a legitimate one-what type of player will he be? But the Yankees have a lot of other issues to address, and after the WS is over, they should start addressing them.