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All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit into the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability, and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts, and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
New report suggests Christian Wilkins release related to 'incident' with teammate
There may be more to Christian Wilkins’ recent surprise release from the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL reporter Josina Anderson reported Saturday that "some sources believe an incident involving a teammate may have factored in-part into the Raiders' fatigue and release" of Wilkins. The nature of the incident is not clear. However, many believe the Raiders had a very good reason to move on from Wilkins considering the money they had invested in him. It also suggests the Raiders saw no alternative if they went straight to a release. Wilkins was dumped by the Raiders just one year into a four-year, $110 million deal. The Raiders suggested Wilkins failed to take rehab seriously as he tries to work his way back from a foot injury. Other teams do not appear to have the same concerns about Wilkins as the Raiders did, and he should find a new landing spot fairly easily. That is one of the reasons some suspect there is more to the Raiders’ decision than they are publicly saying.
Royals acquire outfield help in perplexing trade with Diamondbacks
The Kansas City Royals were hoping to bolster their outfield ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. They were able to do just that in a trade on Saturday. Steve Gilbert from MLB.com reported that the Royals have acquired outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Mark Feinsand from MLB.com reported that relief pitcher Andrew Hoffman will head to Arizona in exchange for Grichuk. The Royals desperately needed help in their outfield. Royals outfielders had been the worst in the majors, posting an atrocious .219/.273/.328 batting line with just 19 home runs entering Saturday's action. Although Grichuk is in the midst of a disappointing season himself, he is an immediate upgrade over whatever the Royals have sent into the outfield. Grichuk had posted a .243/.280/.462 batting line in 186 plate appearances entering Saturday, hitting seven homers and 15 doubles. In exchange, the Diamondbacks receive Hoffman, who FanGraphs ranked as the Royals' 22nd-best prospect entering the season. His upper-90s fastball and new kick change are both considered plus offerings, although his ability to command his arsenal is questionable at best. Hoffman's potential and flaws were evident this season. He made his major league debut for the Royals, allowing six runs, two earned, on seven hits and four walks over 4.2 innings, striking out five. However, Hoffman had dominated at Triple-A, posting a 3.60 ERA and a 1.125 WHiP over his 40 innings, striking out 55 batters with just 10 walks. He is another intriguing addition for a Diamondbacks team that has prioritized pitching in their two trades thus far. The same upside does not exist for the Royals. Kansas City had the same record as the Diamondbacks entering the second game of their doubleheader against the Guardians. Grichuk signed a one-year contract with $5 million guaranteed for 2025. There is a mutual option worth $5 million, with a $3 million buyout, for 2026. Theoretically, Grichuk could be part of the Royals' plans next season. However, mutual options are rarely picked up. As the Royals are currently under .500 and need to pass four teams in the standings to seize the final wild-card spot, adding a rental option does not make sense. It is possible that both sides can work out an arrangement for 2026, but unless that happens, the Royals' latest move is questionable at best.
New York Mets interested in Cardinals’ elite closer
Even after acquiring left-handed reliever Gregory Soto on Friday, the New York Mets remain focused on upgrading their bullpen ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. In an article published Sunday, The Athletic’s Will Sammon pointed to the need for a top setup option behind All-Star closer Edwin Díaz. He reported that the Mets are interested in multiple relievers but are eyeing at least one arm that would clearly address that specific role. “Ryan Helsley is a reliever the Mets have expressed some interest in, but they’ve yet to have any discussions about him with the St. Louis Cardinals,” Sammon wrote. He noted that certain bubble teams, like the Cardinals (54-52), for example, are waiting until at least the end of the weekend to declare their trade deadline intentions. As a result, it remains uncertain whether Helsley will be available. Helsley, 31, had the fourth-best WAR among all relievers last season while leading MLB with 49 saves. Through 36 appearances in 2025, the two-time All-Star has converted 21 of his 26 save opportunities, posting a 3.00 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 10.3 K/9 rate. The veteran right-hander is known for his 99-102 mph fastball and 89 mph slider. While his slider remains his most effective pitch (+10 run value), his fastball has been uncharacteristically hit hard in 2025. As of Sunday morning, opponents are batting .406 against it, contributing to his rising home run rate. Díaz, 31, has been lights out for the Mets this season, collecting 22 saves with a 1.51 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 13.4 K/9 rate in 41 appearances. But behind him, things have been less steady: right-handers Reed Garrett, Ryne Stanek, and Huascar Brazobán have combined for 13 blown saves in 2025. Read More: Trevor Hoffman joins in celebrating Billy Wagner’s Hall of Fame induction Bringing in an arm like Helsley would not only address the Mets’ need for a setup man, but it would also give them a more dependable closing option when situations dictate that Díaz appear earlier in a game than the ninth inning. This would be especially valuable during the postseason, when managers tend to make such aggressive moves more frequently. Helsley is in his final year of club control before hitting free agency, making him a rental rather than a long-term solution. This is especially noteworthy for New York, since Díaz has the ability to opt out of the two years and $37 million remaining on his contract after this season.
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