NEW YORK, NY – MAY 22: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium on May 22, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)
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The New York Yankees are exploring changes throughout the roster as they look to return to the World Series and help secure a championship for franchise slugger Aaron Judge.
The team will be exploring changes for the outfield with Cody Bellinger on the free agent market, it will replace Paul Goldschmidt at first base and it could look to add a starter with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt all recovering from injury.
The team could also be exploring a change at shortstop after news that Anthony Volpe could miss the beginning of next season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Jose Caballero seems poised to open the season at the position, but if Volpe isn’t able to improve his play whenever he does return, the team could be in search of a more permanent solution.
“If Volpe is a similar player to what he was in 2025 — a poor hitter and a poor defender — the Yankees don’t have much choice but to start considering other long-term options,” Chris Kirschner wrote for The Athletic.
Volpe earned a Gold Glove Award in his rookie season with the Yankees and seemed to be the heir apparent to Derek Jeter as a long-term solution at the position. But significant steps back on both offense and defense this past season changed that perception, and Volpe was greeted with boos on more than one occasion at Yankee Stadium.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many difference-making shortstop options available in free agency. So the Yankees seem set to give Volpe at least one more season to prove his worth.
But the team could be stocking up on some new young options to take the reins beyond that. First and foremost, the Yankees have top prospect George Lombard Jr. waiting in the wings, and he could earn a callup to replace Volpe as soon as 2027. And the Yankees are now expected to bring in another top prospect who could become a factor down the line as well.
“Despite rumors of him returning to the market, top Dominican SS prospect Wandy Asigen is still expected to sign with the Yankees as of now,” Major League Baseball insider Francys Romero reported. “Both sides remain in negotiations, according to sources.”
Asigen is the No. 2 ranked international prospect, according to MLB.com. At just 16 years old, it’s hard to say how quickly he might develop into a viable major-league option, but he’s certainly highly touted for such a young player.
“The excitement around Asigne’s prospect profile stems primarily from his special left-handed swing,” per his MLB.com scouting report. “The quickness of his hands has evaluators excited about the future potential impact he can have with the bat.”
Asigen won’t have a chance to supplant Lombard in the organization’s shortstop power rankings, but with Volpe’s grip on the position looking more tenuous than ever, the teenager might be able to rise through the system relatively quickly.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterchawaga/2025/12/04/yankees-expected-to-sign-special-shortstop-after-anthony-volpe-news-report/
