Anthony Volpe is running out of time to prove he’s the Yankees’ long-term answer at shortstop.
The 24-year-old will start the season on the IL following offseason shoulder surgery. More concerning for New York? He’s yet to have that breakout offensive season since his 2023 debut.
Sure, Volpe won a Gold Glove in his rookie year. But he’s posted an OPS of .666 or lower in three straight campaigns. That’s not the kind of production the Yankees need from shortstop if they’re serious about ending their 16-year World Series drought.
Jose Caballero gets the Opening Day nod at short for now.
New York’s long-term plans at the position remain unclear. But here’s where things get interesting – Aaron Judge could use his World Baseball Classic platform to start recruiting one of the AL East’s premier talents.
Gunnar Henderson still has three years left before hitting free agency with Baltimore. But it’s never too early to plant seeds, and FanSided’s Mark Powell sees a scenario where the Yankees make a serious run at the Orioles shortstop.
“As for the Yankees, they have a void at shortstop as of this writing. Sure, Anthony Volpe has talent, but he’s been inconsistent at best at the plate, and New York will want more from such a premium position. If Volpe doesn’t prove he’s a five-tool player by the time Henderson reaches free agency, it’ll be an easy choice for New York.”
Yankees fans are still frustrated the front office passed on Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, and Trevor Story when that trio hit free agency after 2021. They won’t want to see the organization whiff on elite talent again.
From 2023-24, Henderson posted back-to-back top 10 AL MVP finishes while launching 65 home runs with a 140 OPS+.
That’s exactly the type of impact player the Yankees have been missing. The question is whether they’ll be willing to make the investment when Henderson’s time comes – and if Volpe can’t turn things around offensively, the decision becomes pretty straightforward.
