Anthony Volpe’s Yankees Career in Jeopardy as 20-Year-Old Phenom Emerges in Fierce Battle

Anthony Volpe stepped into the batter’s box Tuesday night knowing his Yankees career was on the line. After watching Jose Caballero take over his shortstop job for six straight games, Volpe finally got his shot at redemption against Minnesota. He delivered with two hits and a double in the 10-9 victory, but the damage was already done. Manager Aaron Boone’s cleverly chosen words about “getting him back in the mix” poured fuel on the fire for anybody suspecting that Volpe was fighting for his future. This was much more than just a game; this was his job interview in pinstripes, with another 20-year-old waiting for his turn, all while time was fast approaching for arbitration.

George Lombard Jr. makes for the biggest long-term threat ever to Volpe’s reign. The 2023 first-round pick by the Yankees (26th overall) has been totally spectacular in his meteoric rise through the system. After absolutely annihilating the competition in High-A Hudson Valley with a .329/.495/.488 slash line, one home run, and 11 steals, Lombard found himself promoted to Double-A Somerset. The numbers did dip a bit on this higher level—.215/.336/.362 with 8 homers and 22 steals in 102 games—but scouts are excited about the 13.5 percent of walks and that elite speed. Adding to the hostilities, Jose Caballero has responded to Volpe being troubled, hitting .333 in five straight starts and smashing a 423-foot homer at Fenway Park on his way to amassing 1.1 bWAR in 31 games.

The harsh reality of Volpe’s predicament crystallizes in ESPN analyst Buster Olney’s unflinching assessment of the Yankees’ approach. “Jose Caballero had started six consecutive games at shortstop for the Yankees before Anthony Volpe started Tuesday’s game, notching two hits,” Olney reported. “It appears there is effectively an open competition at the position: whoever plays better will play.” This brutal meritocracy marks a seismic shift from the organizational patience previously afforded to Volpe as their prized prospect. The financial adds another unquantifiable impediment as Volpe’s first arbitration season approaches this winter, a very pricey commitment for a player whose career path appears to be sloping downwards in value. Olney’s analysis goes further than that: “With prospect George Lombard climbing (and thriving) through the farm system, it is unclear who the Yankees’ shortstop will be in 2026.”

The unresolved aspect extends all the way to questioning the Yankees’ investment in their former cornerstone player, demonstrating that organizational allegiance does have its bounds when it pays off in championships. Manager Aaron Boone actively tried to spin some good vibes after Volpe’s two-hit night in Minnesota: “Good to see him get some immediate results with a double the other way, a walk, a base hit…. Really good play up the middle right at the start of the game. Good to see him jump right back in and contribute.” However, even this promising appearance could not conceal a .185 average around a .567 OPS for Volpe since August 1st that weighed ever so heavily in the questions around his long-term future in pinstripes.

Whereas Mr. Boone announced patience and development to the whole world, the office of the New York Yankees operates in an entirely different time dimension. With championship windows measured in seasons rather than years, the organization simply won’t wait forever for improvement to occur. Quiet alternatives are beginning to be explored.

Yankees eye familiar rival as backup plan

Trying to portray the Yankees in such a diplomatic manner cannot hide the otherwise uncomfortable truth—they need interim considerations. While the Yankees officially support Volpe, the forethought among the front office is already churning through alternatives that could change the entire makeup of their infield. The shortstop uncertainty has cascaded through all phases of their roster planning.

Third baseman Alex Bregman has been grabbing the team’s attention as they look forward to another aggressive offseason. “Bregman isn’t guaranteed to be available this offseason,” said SI’s Patrick McAvoy. “He has an opt-out in his three-year deal with Boston that has been talked about a lot. Third base has been a spot of need for the Yankees, and if Bregman does opt out, he’ll be the best player available.”

The desire goes beyond that of merely filling a position. “The Yankees have gotten a good look at him over the years with the Houston Astros and now Boston,” stated McAvoy. “He’s a superstar who would give the Yankees something they are clearly missing.” Despite the change in jersey, Bregman is still very much elite; his slash line this year is .272/.355/.465, with 17 home runs.

Beyond Volpe, there are other issues. The acquisition of Ryan McMahon out of Colorado, coupled with the ascent of Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second base, causes a series of roster conundrums. Should the Yankees even consider investing in Bregman’s anticipated salary when multitudes of positions must be addressed, especially with that shortstop situation being in limbo?