NEW YORK — The New York Yankees have publicly backed Anthony Volpe as their shortstop of the future. Behind closed doors, the calculus may be more complicated.
The 24-year-old enters 2026 recovering from shoulder surgery after a dismal campaign. His defense collapsed. His bat never arrived. The patience in the Bronx has limits, and those limits could expire by the trade deadline in late July.
MLB Network insider Jon Morosi identified Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams as a potential Yankees target if Volpe fails to produce.
“[CJ] Abrams is the name for me that will likely at some point in time move on,” Morosi said. “If [Anthony] Volpe struggles… maybe the Yankees take a look at someone like an Abrams down towards the trade deadline.”
Shoulder surgery clouds opening day status
Volpe underwent surgery in mid-October to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder. The injury occurred in early May when he dove for a ground ball and heard a pop. He played through pain for the remainder of the season, receiving two cortisone injections to manage discomfort.
The Yankees do not expect Volpe to return before the end of April. Some estimates suggest he could be sidelined until May. Manager Aaron Boone said Volpe cannot swing a bat for at least four months and cannot dive on his surgically repaired shoulder for six months.
For the first time in four seasons, Volpe will not be the Yankees’ Opening Day shortstop. Jose Caballero will fill that role when the season begins March 25 in San Francisco.
Three seasons of offensive struggles haunt the shortstop
The numbers paint a troubling picture. Through 1,886 career plate appearances, Volpe owns a .222 batting average with a .662 OPS and 84 OPS+. He has never posted an on-base percentage above .300. He has never slugged above .400.
His 2025 season was particularly ugly. Volpe hit .212 with a .272 on-base percentage. Among qualified hitters, he finished second-worst in batting average and third-worst in OBP. His 83 wRC+ ranked him among the bottom feeders in MLB.
The shoulder injury certainly did not help. Before getting hurt on May 3, Volpe carried a .786 OPS through 28 games. After the injury, he slashed .205/.255/.374 for a 74 wRC+ the rest of the way.
Yet the front office remains committed. General manager Brian Cashman voiced his support this offseason.
“Do I believe in Anthony Volpe? The answer is yes,” Cashman said. “I believe in the player. I think we believe in the player. He’s 24 years old. I don’t think the New York stage is too big for him. It’s just still finding his way.”
Defensive regression adds to concerns
Volpe won a Gold Glove in his 2023 rookie season. He posted 13 Outs Above Average in 2024. The reputation as a glove-first shortstop gave the Yankees reason to tolerate his offensive limitations.
That changed dramatically in 2025. Volpe finished with minus-6 OAA. He tied for the American League lead among shortstops with 19 errors. Only two MLB shortstops made more miscues: Elly De La Cruz (26) and CJ Abrams (22).
Boone defended his shortstop despite the numbers.
“For the noise around him this year and the struggles he went through defensively in the middle of the season,” Boone said, “I think it’s really important to know how good he was the final two months, which is more in line, defensively speaking, with who he’s been these first few years.”
How Volpe compares to potential replacement Abrams
The numbers favor Abrams in almost every offensive category. The Nationals shortstop owns a .249 career batting average compared to Volpe’s .222. Abrams has a .736 career OPS while Volpe sits at .662. The gap is significant for players at the same position.
Abrams made the 2024 All-Star team after a scorching first half. He finished last season with 19 home runs and 31 stolen bases. His power and speed combination makes him one of the more dynamic young shortstops in MLB. In 2025, he slashed .257/.315/.433 while playing in a pitcher-friendly ballpark.
Volpe has never matched those numbers. His best season produced 21 home runs and 24 stolen bases in 2024. He has never hit above .252 in a full campaign. His career wRC+ of 84 means he produces 16% below league average.
The defensive comparison is closer. Abrams committed 22 errors in 2025, three more than Volpe. Both players have struggled with consistency in the field. The Nationals shortstop posted a minus-13 fielding run value in 2024, the worst among MLB shortstops.
Yankee Stadium would benefit Abrams more than Nationals Park. The Bronx ranks third in home run park factor over the past three years. Abrams has shown he can drive the ball when given hitter-friendly conditions.
Trade deadline timeline creates natural checkpoint
The MLB trade deadline falls at the end of July. By then, Volpe should have roughly two months of games under his belt following his return from surgery.
That window gives the Yankees enough sample size to evaluate his performance. If Volpe continues struggling at the plate while making errors in the field, the front office could pivot.
The Nationals recently traded MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers, signaling their willingness to move pieces. Abrams could be next if Washington continues rebuilding. The 25-year-old has three years of team control remaining, making him an attractive trade target.
Caballero auditions for larger role
The Yankees acquired Jose Caballero from Tampa Bay at the 2025 trade deadline. The utility infielder thrived in New York, posting an .828 OPS in 40 games down the stretch.
He hit .266 with a .372 on-base percentage and .456 slugging mark as a Yankee. His walk-off single clinched a postseason berth in the final week of the regular season.
Caballero will open 2026 as the starting shortstop while Volpe recovers. If he continues producing, the Yankees face a dilemma when their former top prospect returns.
“I’m happy we have Cabby as well,” Cashman said. “And when he comes back, I still believe everything that we felt about him before his surgery.”
Prospects wait in the pipeline
The Yankees have options beyond Volpe and Caballero. Top-100 prospect George Lombard Jr. spent most of 2025 at Double-A. He hit .215/.337/.358 at that level, suggesting he needs more development time.
A 2026 debut remains possible but not probable. The 20-year-old could factor into middle infield plans by 2027 if his bat catches up to his tools.
For now, the spotlight falls squarely on Volpe. He agreed to a $3.5 million contract this offseason, his first year of arbitration eligibility. The team-friendly salary gives the Yankees financial flexibility but does not guarantee him playing time.
The shoulder injury provides an excuse for last season’s collapse. Whether Volpe can recapture his Gold Glove form and improve his bat will determine his future in pinstripes.
July will bring answers. The Yankees have been patient. That patience has an expiration date.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
