The New York Yankees have to make a decision on Anthony Volpe soon.
Volpe’s rehab assignment is set to end on Sunday, and the Yankees will have to either activate him from the injured list or option him to the minors. Yet, before that decision is made, the Somerset Patriots, the Double-A affiliate of the Yankees, revealed that Volpe will be back in the lineup on Sunday.
“Anthony Volpe gets the start at shortstop in today’s lineup as Chase Chaney makes his fifth start of the season!,” the Patriots wrote on X.
Volpe is set to bat second and play shortstop in what could be his final game before playing for the Yankees again. Or, if the Yankees feel comfortable with Jose Caballero at shortstop for the time being, Volpe could be optioned.
On his rehab assignment, Volpe is hitting .278 with 1 home run and 4 RBIs.
As for the Yankees, New York is set for its third game of a four-game series against the Orioles on Sunday. The Yankees have won the first two games of the series and will look for the series win.
Yankees Could Option Volpe
New York will have a tough decision to make on Volpe.
Volpe’s rehab assignment ends on Sunday, and the Yankees may decide to option him. If he is sent down and kept in the minors for 20 days. It also would push his free agency from 2028 to 2029, something insider Chris Kirschner of The Athletic believes is possible.
“This has not been suggested by team personnel, and it is mere speculation. But the Yankees could decide to keep Volpe in the minors after his rehab assignment is over,” Kirschner wrote. “Keeping him in the minors for 20 days would push Volpe’s free agency from 2028 to 2029. A service-time manipulation tactic that is unlikely to occur. However, this would also allow the Yankees to continue riding with Caballero, who has performed.
“No matter what the Yankees decide to do, this is the most important season yet for Volpe. There’s now someone on the roster who can compete with him for playing time. This week the Yankees promoted No. 1 prospect George Lombard Jr. to Triple A, which makes a 2026 debut a possibility. The runway for Volpe is no longer an endless road. For the first time, he’ll have to perform well because options are waiting to take his job.”
If the Yankees do option Volpe, it would be a stunning decision. But it does make sense with how Caballero is playing.
Boone Delaying Volpe Decision
The Yankees will have to decide on Volpe soon, but the team will wait for the last possible second.
Before Friday’s game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the team will wait until Sunday to make a decision.
“We’ll kind of reevaluate where we are after Sunday,” Boone said before Friday’s game. “I don’t think it hurts to have some more runway for him. Caby’s obviously playing very well for us.
“So I just want it to be a situation where we’re giving Anthony every chance to come in and be successful but also taking note of what’s going on with our club, as well.”
Volpe hit .212 with 19 home runs and 72 RBIs last season.
Yankees Make Anthony Volpe Announcement Before Orioles Game