Signing this free agent would completely transform Yankees' lineup

Bo Bichette is the way to go

Although four-time All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker is considered the top target for teams this offseason, the Yankees should focus on one player: Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette. 

Bichette has a .294 career batting average and an .806 OPS, and he led the league in hits in both 2021 and 2022. The two-time All-Star caused some concern among fans during his disappointing 2024 season, when he posted a -0.3 fWAR over 81 games and faced setbacks with calf injuries and a fractured finger. The 27-year-old shortstop proved that his injury-plagued season was temporary, bouncing back strongly in 2025 by hitting 18 home runs, batting .311 and posting an .840 OPS.

Although he hasn't showcased his speed recently due to injury recovery, he can be a threat on the bases, stealing 25 bags in 2021. His bat-to-ball skills, along with his sneaky power, would make him a sparkplug at the top of the Yankees' batting order. 

New York needs a leadoff hitter who can set the table for Aaron Judge, and Bichette could fill that role while alleviating the shortstop worries fans have had for years.

Moving on from Anthony Volpe

If Volpe's 2025 production were replaced with Bichette's, the Yankees would be wholly transformed. One of the hardest parts of this change will be the team letting go of Volpe, especially since Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has been high on him from the start.

"I think he is a good player," Cashman told The Athletic. "This is not the season that we expected or he expected, but that does not change our viewpoint on what he is capable of."

Volpe's 2023 season saw him produce below-par offensive numbers but showed promise, as he won a Gold Glove and posted a 20-homer, 20-stolen-base season. His 2024 season offered glimpses of the hitter and player he was projected to become, with a solid first three months and an excellent postseason performance. Unfortunately, 2025 brought almost no positives, as he experienced his worst season yet, made no improvements at the plate, and led the American League with 19 errors. 

If the Yankees weren't trying to make the playoffs every season and instead focused on getting the most out of this team while Judge is still putting up MVP-caliber numbers, an argument could be made that giving Volpe more playing time and development might be the right move. But that is not the case, and Volpe remains the biggest outlier in New York.

Rewriting past mistakes

In previous offseasons, the Yankees passed up on high-profile shortstops like Corey Seager, Trea Turner and Carlos Correa, because they were confident in Volpe's ability as a prospect.

Any time a team chooses a prospect over proven talent, there is risk and reward. The Yankees were hoping to develop an elite shortstop rather than pay top dollar for an already proven one, and it hasn't worked out. 

The opportunity has arisen for the Bombers to right their wrongs and sign the All-Star shortstop that they've been missing. Until Bichette gets signed, only time will tell if they decide to run it back with Volpe or cut their losses with the young shortstop.