Anthony Volpe’s Struggles Are About to Change the Yankees’ Trade Deadline

It’s not just about one game, it's been growing. In June, Volpe hit just .205 with a .290 OBP and .665 OPS. His swing has looked out of sync. His confidence has wavered. A 0-for-24 stretch earlier in the month underscored the deeper slump.

This is still a 24-year-old shortstop playing every day in New York. That comes with growing pains. But the Yankees have to account for those growing pains as they approach the deadline. .

They’re not replacing Volpe any time soon. But they do need to support him.

That’s why trading for a utility infielder like Isiah Kiner-Falefa makes more sense than a splashy third baseman like Eugenio Suarez or Nolan Arenado. 

Yes, the Yankees need a bat. But adding a third baseman means Oswald Peraza must stay on the roster as the backup shortstop and that limits their flexibility.

 Kiner-Falefa isn’t flashy, but he’s steady—the kind of player who quietly makes a roster better. Through July 1, he’s batting .276 with a .319 OBP across 71 games, chipping in 20 RBIs and 10 steals. He’s not going to slug his way into headlines, but he puts the ball in play, runs the bases well, and can handle shortstop in a pinch 

He is also a Gold Glove third baseman. 

If the Yankees go big, Peraza has to stay. But if the priority is helping Volpe stay afloat through the long grind, Kiner-Falefa is the better fit.