Opinion: Playing Chicken with the Clock: Why the Yankees Can't Afford a Status Quo at Shortstop
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With the trade deadline looming, Brian Cashman faces a critical decision on whether to move on from Anthony Volpe to save a World Series window.
Listen, I've seen enough of this game to know that hope isn't a strategy. Right now, the New York Yankees are sitting in second place in the American League, but if you're looking at the roster, there's a glaring hole at shortstop that could turn a potential championship run into a very early offseason.
As reported by Sports Illustrated, general manager Brian Cashman has a ticking clock. With the trade deadline arriving on Monday, Aug. 3, the Bronx Bombers have less than three weeks to decide if they are actually going all-in. In my opinion, staying pat at shortstop is a gamble they can't afford to lose.
Let's look at the tape. Anthony Volpe, the former 2019 first-round pick, is struggling. According to Sports Illustrated, the 25-year-old is slashing .246/.342/.326 with just one home run and 13 RBIs over 45 games. While Baseball Savant ranks his plus-6 outs above average as the 12th-best among shortstops this year, the defensive flashes aren't enough to offset a 0.9 WAR.
Some might point to José Caballero as a viable alternative. He's shown flashes, slashing .290/.281/.484 in his last 10 games, but Sports Illustrated notes he is a rollercoaster. His June numbers were a wake-up call: a .210 batting average and a .657 OPS with a 32.1% strikeout rate over 24 games. Between Volpe and Caballero, the Yankees have a revolving door. Utilityman Max Schuemann and third baseman Ryan McMahon have combined for only 34 innings at the position this season.
If Cashman wants to give manager Aaron Boone a real shot at the World Series, he needs to look outward. Sports Illustrated identifies several targets. The Houston Astros could be sellers, making the versatile Isaac Paredes—a two-time All-Star with 12 HRs and 49 RBIs—a primary target. Spotrac notes Paredes has a conditional club option for 2027. If New York wants a natural shortstop, Houston's Jeremy Peña (six HRs, 22 RBIs) is another option. Beyond Houston, the Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams is highlighted as a talented target, particularly as the club deals with Aaron Judge's current stint on the injured list.
Of course, the cost is the sticking point. Landing a name like Abrams or Paredes requires giving up prospects. If the front office is too protective of their farm, Sports Illustrated suggests more affordable options like Zach Neto of the Angels, Willi Casto of the Rockies, or Isiah Kiner-Falefa of the Red Sox.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel with top prospect George Lombard Jr., but he is currently recovering from sprained fingers. Per Sports Illustrated, he likely won't be available until September or even next spring.
Bottom line: The Yankees are playing a dangerous game of chicken with the calendar. Volpe and Caballero aren't players you build a postseason run around. If Cashman doesn't shore up the left side of the infield now, he's just wasting a prime window.