The Yankees had plenty of issues this season, but one of the biggest was surely Anthony Volpe at shortstop. Volpe actually led the league in errors this year, which is tough to overlook. Yes, he’s never been a major threat at the plate, but his defense and that Gold Glove on his resume were supposed to be his strong points. However, that hasn’t really held up…

And now it looks like the Volpe problem might carry over into next season, too. What’s even more surprising is how the Yankees’ front office seems to be brushing it off, to the point that even a former Yankees outfielder has called them out for mishandling their young talent.

“There’s so much disconnect when it comes to the injuries.” Clint Frazier responded to the Yankees GM Brian Cashman’s remark on Volpe via X.

Well, Volpe’s 2025 season was rough, to say the least. Reportedly, in 153 games, he hit just .212 with a .663 OPS. Moreover, Volpe committed 19 errors this year, tied for the third most among shortstops. Overall, a year both the Yankees and Volpe would love to forget.

But there was more to the story!

Reportedly, the Yankees had downplayed a shoulder issue Volpe was dealing with during the season, and it turned out to be worse than they thought. After surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, GM Brian Cashman admitted that the injury likely affected both Volpe’s hitting and defense. “I personally think now, yes, it was affecting him,” Cashman said.

Cashman’s remarks about Volpe feel more surprising considering that Volpe even got a cortisone shot during the All-Star break. And continuing with him without knowing that an injury was affecting his performance is surely a no-brainer.

Former Yankee Clint Frazier didn’t take kindly to Cashman’s comments, though. He called out the team for being disconnected from their players and overlooking an injury for months.

Well, Frazier’s frustration makes sense as he battled multiple concussions during his time with the Yankees from 2017 to 2021, before being released. Seeing a similar pattern play out with Volpe, he couldn’t help but question whether the team still struggles to take player injuries seriously.

The Yankees are still believing in Volpe

The Yankees might not be repeating a Clint Frazier story this time with Anthony Volpe. Yes, despite Volpe’s struggle this year, they are still betting on the shortstop for the next year.

“I believe in the player still. We believe in the player. It doesn’t mean that we don’t play with all aspects of roster assessments. He’s 24 years old, and I don’t think New York’s stage is too big for him. He’s still finding his way,” Cashman added.

However, Volpe won’t be able to start hitting again for about four months. But guess what, when he does return, the Yankees will need him to look a lot more like the 2023–24 version of himself, if he’s going to keep his role as the team’s long-term shortstop. But who will play shortstop in the meantime?

Reportedly, the Yankees could turn to Jose Caballero, who replaced Volpe in a few games this year. Caballero posted a 97 wRC+ and stole 49 bases in 2025, giving the lineup a boost in both offense and speed. So, the Yankees should feel confident that he can handle the job if needed, at least in the short term.

Nevertheless, how the Yankees are dealing with Anthony Volpe now looks like they are well past Clint Frazier’s era. While Volpe’s injury was initially overlooked, the team is ensuring it does not happen again.