Yankees Send Quiet Warning To Anthony Volpe

Highlights:

• Brian Cashman says he still believes Anthony Volpe is the Yankees' shortstop once healthy.
  
• Volpe’s left shoulder labrum repair explains a season of struggles and delays his start to 2026.
  
• Jose Caballero is the shortstop bridge while Volpe rehabs.
  

Brian Cashman is not backing down on Anthony Volpe. Asked if he still views Volpe as the New York Yankees shortstop once he is healthy, the general manager said he believes in the player and in the process. He pointed to age, the reality of New York, and the fact that development is rarely linear. 

But, his answer to the question if Volpe is the shortstop of the future was telling “I think so.”

The plan remains when he is cleared, Cashman explained, but the roster will be assessed with a fresh perspective.

“Sometimes, this isn't linear. It's also not guaranteed, and that's why it's always fair to assess what you have,” Cashman told reporters. “That, I promise you, always takes place."

That's as critical as Cashman has been on Volpe in his three years in the big leagues.

What The Injury Explains And What It Does Not

Volpe played through a labrum tear in his left shoulder before undergoing surgery. Timelines suggest he will be hitting in the spring with restrictions on diving and full contact early. It is the non-throwing shoulder, but it still affects his swing decisions, extension, and confidence on balls to his left. The injury helps explain his downturn. It does not guarantee a bounce without a sharper strike-zone plan.

The Stat Line That Sparked The Debate

Strip away the hype and you see a year that sagged at the plate and in the field. Swing decisions drifted and mistakes stacked up. That is how you end up in an October conversation about job security. Context matters — he played hurt — but the league does not grade on a curve. A healthy reset must show better contact quality and steadier internal clock on routine plays.

Volpe’s 2025 told the story.

He hit .212/.272/.391 with 19 homers and 18 steals across 153 games—a small power bump from 2024 but less contact and on-base. The bigger slide came on defense. After looking like a plus glove in 2024, he finished around minus-8 in Outs Above Average with 19 errors, drifting from steady to below average. Net: the shoulder explains part of it, but the bat-to-ball and the internal clock on routine plays have to bounce back for this to work at short.

Why Cashman Is Doubling Down

Volpe is 24 and has already has a track record at this level. There is a plausible injury explanation for the drop. 

Cashman’s stance also reflects what the Yankees have built around him. With Ryan McMahon stabilizing third and Jose Caballero providing clean shortstop coverage to open 2026, the left side should be less chaotic. The door is open to assess everything, but the intent is clear. If healthy, Volpe gets the first shot to reclaim shortstop.

The Bridge And The Early Season Math

Jose Caballero give the Yankees time. He makes clean plays in the field, competitive at-bats, and base-running pressure at the bottom of the lineup, with the flexibility to float into the two-hole when you want speed and on-base percentage in front of Aaron Judge.

 If the Yankees get league-average offense and steady defense from Caballero through April and May, they can avoid rushing Volpe.

The Lombard Jr Question You Cannot Ignore

George Lombard Jr is coming and that will change the equation – in the future. 

He reached the upper minors, held serve, and showed actions that play at short. If he opens 2026 hot and handles upper-level velocity, the pressure becomes real. That path is not guaranteed, but it exists. If the bat translates, he can force a timeshare by summer and a real decision by September.