Imagine a world where the New York Yankees, one of the most iconic teams in baseball, are facing a crisis at the shortstop position. It's a scenario that's all too real, and it's about to get a lot more interesting. The season was a mixed bag for the Yankees, with some notable highlights, including 94 wins, thanks in large part to key additions like Max Fried and Cody Bellinger, as well as impressive performances from Ben Rice and Trent Grisham. However, not everything went according to plan, and one player who exemplifies this is shortstop Anthony Volpe. Once a consensus top-15 prospect, Volpe's rookie season was marked by a Gold Glove win, but he's struggled to find his footing at the plate, with a lackluster .212/.272/.391 slash line in 153 games this year. But here's where it gets controversial: despite his struggles, Volpe's situation is complicated by a partial labrum tear that he played through for most of the season. This injury could be a major factor in his decline, and it's possible that it will impact his availability for the start of the 2026 season. And this is the part most people miss: the upcoming class of shortstops is remarkably weak, with Bo Bichette being the prize of the class, but he comes with defensive concerns of his own. The pickings are slim outside of Bichette, with Ha-Seong Kim and Trevor Story being potential options, but they come with their own set of questions. The trade market might feature CJ Abrams, but his defense is questionable enough that he may not stick at that spot for much longer. Without another replacement who would be a clear upgrade over Volpe, the Yankees may be forced to choose between either shelling out for a defensively-flawed solution in Bichette or sticking with their internal options. Those internal options don't necessarily have to lead to Volpe starting the majority of the Yankees' games at shortstop next year, though that might be the most likely outcome. Jose Caballero will be back next season and earned plenty of fans in the Bronx for his work on both sides of the ball in 40 games down the stretch. Perhaps he could share time with Volpe at shortstop in the early part of, with the possibility of top-100 prospect George Lombard Jr. stepping up later in the season. But what do you think, MLB fans? Will Volpe be the solution at the position next year? Will the Yankees bring in a free agent or trade for someone to handle things? Or will an internal candidate like Caballero or Lombard take the job from Volpe by the end of next year? The debate is on, and we want to hear from you. So, let's get the conversation started: what's your take on the Yankees' shortstop situation? Do you think Volpe will bounce back, or is it time for the team to explore other options? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
