The Yankees have spent the past couple of weeks sending a pretty clear message with Anthony Volpe, even if nobody in the organization has said it outright.
Volpe has made only three starts since July 7 and hasn’t appeared in four games during that stretch. When reporters pressed Aaron Boone with the blunt line that “it's clear Volpe is no longer a starter,” Boone didn’t offer much in response.
And if Tuesday’s game hadn’t been washed out, Volpe likely would have been on the bench again with Bubba Chandler set to pitch for the Pirates. Instead, he now appears likely to start Wednesday’s doubleheader.
Still, the larger picture hasn’t changed. Volpe is not functioning as an everyday starter anymore, and Caballero is not the kind of shortstop a World Series contender wants to lean on every day either.
That’s why the Yankees’ shortstop trade chatter matters. A move for Angels slugger Zach Neto has been floated, and he would be a strong fit in New York because of his age, team control and all-around game. But there’s no guarantee Neto or any other major shortstop target actually gets moved.
That uncertainty is part of why the George Lombard Jr. buzz has started to make more and more sense. Reports have labeled Lombard Jr. “untouchable” in Yankees trade discussions, and that kind of language usually means the club has a very specific plan in mind.
Lombard Jr. is back from a finger injury and has resumed hitting the ball hard. The Yankees believe his glove is ready for the majors, and his bat is making the kind of progress that could force a real decision by Aug. 3.
So is Lombard Jr. “untouchable” because the Yankees see him as their next starting shortstop? Or at least as a regular bench piece until he proves he can handle more?
That idea fits the current state of the roster, especially with Volpe continuing to struggle. He’s 1-for-20 with nine strikeouts with two outs and runners in scoring position this year.
At this point, Lombard Jr. would have a hard time being worse. If he brings better defense and more versatility, the Yankees could view him as the cleaner option if they believe he’s ready.
It would also create a clean break with Volpe. The Yankees could move him at the deadline, let him reset somewhere else, and clear a $4-5 million payroll burden for 2027.
The bigger issue is roster congestion. There doesn’t seem to be a realistic path where Volpe, Caballero, Lombard Jr., Jazz Chisholm Jr., Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario are all on the same roster. Something has to give, and the Yankees also need to find reputable outfield help.
For a while now, it has felt like the signs have been pointing in Volpe’s direction. The Yankees have already handled the first step in what looks like a possible split, and in two weeks, they may already be talking about a new era in the Bronx.
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Anthony Volpe Is Now Drawing A Trade Suitor Yankees Fans Will Notice
The Rays are already looking at ways to add offense before the trade deadline, and one name that has surfaced in that conversation will sound familiar to Yankees fans: Anthony Volpe. Contributors to The Athletic recently pegged Tampa Bay as a possible landing spot for the young shortstop, a reminder that the Rays are always willing to explore a buy-low talent if they think their player-development machine can unlock more.
Volpes uneven season has only added to the intrigue, especially with New York still holding him under team control through 2028. He arrived with the kind of pedigree that made him one of the more closely watched young players in the division, and he has shown flashes since reaching the majors, but the idea of a change of scenery is now part of the conversation. For the Yankees, the question is less about whether Volpe has value and more about how much patience they want to keep showing while a rival circles. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees May Finally Have A Real Catching Fix At A Cost
The Yankees have spent plenty of time looking for a catching answer that can help the lineup, and Shea Langeliers has started to look like the kind of fit that makes sense on paper. The Athletics catcher brings real offensive upside, and with Oaklands needs pointing in the direction of pitching, the framework for a deal is easy enough to understand even before any negotiations get serious.
What makes this worth watching is how quickly the market could move if the Yankees decide to push. Langeliers is becoming a more realistic trade name than the flashier stars who usually dominate the rumor mill, and New York has enough prospect depth to assemble a package if it chooses to get aggressive. The question now is whether the Yankees are willing to pay the price for a catcher who could solve a problem they have been trying to patch for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Finally Got Injury News Fans Desperately Needed On Stanton And Fried
Giancarlo Stantons rehab has finally moved off the most frustrating holding pattern. The Yankees slugger, sidelined since April 24 with a calf strain, has resumed a running progression, a sign that his comeback is no longer just a matter of waiting and watching. There is still no firm timetable attached to his return, but Aaron Boones latest update at least gives the club a clearer sense that Stanton is moving in the right direction as the season enters its stretch run.
Max Frieds situation looks even more concrete, and that matters just as much for a Yankees team trying to steady its rotation. The left-hander, out since mid-May with a left elbow bone bruise, is set for a 60-pitch rehab start on July 22, the kind of checkpoint that usually signals the finish line is getting closer. For a club balancing October hopes with the daily grind of the schedule, getting both Stanton and Fried back in the mix could change the feel of the roster in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]