🚨STUNNING MOVE IN THE WORKS: Could The Yankees Send Anthony Volpe To Triple-A As He Recovers From Shoulder Surgery?👇

Anthony Volpe’s Challenging 2025 Season
New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe had a rough 2025 season, struggling both offensively and defensively. After a promising rookie campaign in 2023, in which he earned a Gold Glove and showed impressive skills at shortstop, expectations were high for the 24-year-old heading into last season. Unfortunately, Volpe’s 2025 numbers fell far short of expectations. He finished with a disappointing slash line of .212/.272/.391 and faced significant struggles with his defensive consistency as well. The Yankees’ fanbase, once excited about his potential, is now frustrated with his performance, and many are calling for a change at shortstop.

Volpe’s Shoulder Injury and Recovery
As if Volpe’s struggles weren’t enough, he is currently recovering from shoulder surgery. The surgery is expected to keep him sidelined for the early part of the 2026 season, which only adds to the uncertainty surrounding his future with the team. His inability to stay healthy, combined with his underwhelming performance in 2025, has only intensified the calls for the Yankees to consider alternative options at shortstop.

Could Volpe Start the 2026 Season in Triple-A?
According to Joel Sherman of The New York Post, there is a possibility that Volpe could begin the 2026 season in Triple-A as he continues to recover from his shoulder injury. Sherman reported that if Jose Caballero, who has filled in admirably at shortstop in Volpe’s absence, performs well during Spring Training, the Yankees may decide to keep Volpe in the minors when he returns from the injured list.

This decision would not only allow Caballero to continue as the starting shortstop but could also be a strategic move for the Yankees to maximize Volpe’s service time. By keeping Volpe in the minors for just 20 days, the Yankees could delay his free agency by an additional year, pushing his first potential free agency year to 2029 instead of 2028.

The Financial and Strategic Implications
For the Yankees, this could be a savvy move from a financial and strategic standpoint. Extending Volpe’s club control by a year would not only provide more value to the team but could also increase his trade value down the line. Teams are always looking for players with more years of control, and having Volpe under team control for an additional year could make him a more attractive trade piece in the future.

However, this move may not be popular among fans who have grown disillusioned with Volpe’s performance and would rather see him gone altogether. While keeping Volpe in the minors to gain an extra year of control may make sense from a business perspective, it likely won’t sit well with those who feel that the Yankees need to make a more decisive move at shortstop.

A Complicated Situation for Volpe
It’s also important to consider the context of Volpe’s 2025 season. Despite his struggles at the plate, Volpe did hit 19 home runs and drive in 72 RBIs, all while playing with a torn labrum in his shoulder. The injury clearly affected his performance, and it’s possible that a fully healthy Volpe could return to his pre-2025 form. In fact, his defense in 2023 and 2024 was stellar, and the injury might explain the dramatic drop-off in his overall performance.

Jose Caballero’s Impact
While Volpe was sidelined, the Yankees acquired utility player Jose Caballero at the trade deadline last summer. Caballero filled in admirably at shortstop, posting a solid slash line of .266/.372/.456 across 95 plate appearances. His performance has added an extra layer of complexity to the situation, as he has shown he can be a reliable option at shortstop. However, Caballero, who has a career OPS of just .657 since entering the big leagues in 2023, is unproven over the course of a full season. The question now becomes whether Caballero can maintain his solid offensive production over an extended period or whether his 2025 numbers were a flash in the pan.

What’s Next for Volpe and the Yankees?
As Spring Training approaches, the Yankees will have some tough decisions to make. Volpe’s future with the team is uncertain, and his performance during the first few weeks of the season could determine whether he starts in the minors or reclaims the shortstop job on the big league roster. It will also be interesting to see how Caballero performs in Spring Training and whether his offensive numbers can hold up over a full season.

If Volpe does start the season in Triple-A, it will give the Yankees an opportunity to assess his development while also allowing Caballero to maintain the starting shortstop role. This move would give Volpe time to work on his game and get back to full health, but it could also put more pressure on him to prove he belongs in the majors long-term.

Trade Rumors and Future Options
If the Yankees decide to keep Volpe in the minors and Caballero proves to be a viable option at shortstop, there is a possibility that Volpe could be moved in a trade. Adding another year of club control could make him more valuable in a potential trade scenario, and the Yankees may look to move him for a player that better fits their needs. Volpe’s upside is still significant, and many teams would likely be interested in acquiring him if the Yankees are willing to part ways.

Yankees’ Shortstop Situation in Flux
The situation at shortstop for the Yankees is far from settled. While Volpe has been viewed as the shortstop of the future, his struggles and injuries have raised questions about his immediate future with the team. Caballero, on the other hand, has been a solid contributor but is unproven as a long-term solution at the position.

As the 2026 season nears, the Yankees will need to make a decision about their shortstop position, and how they handle Volpe’s return from injury will be a crucial factor in that decision. It will be interesting to see whether the Yankees opt to stick with Volpe, send him to Triple-A, or look for a new option entirely. Regardless of what happens, the shortstop position will remain one of the most closely watched storylines for the Yankees in the coming season.

Conclusion: The Decision Looms
As Spring Training approaches, the Yankees’ shortstop situation remains in flux, with Anthony Volpe’s future uncertain. The decision to potentially send him to Triple-A is one that will have long-term implications for both Volpe’s career and the Yankees’ 2026 season. Fans will be watching closely to see how the situation develops and whether the Yankees will continue to trust Volpe as their shortstop of the future or go in a different direction. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as the Yankees make their move heading into the new season.