The New York Yankees are one of the top teams in the American League, but there's a major issue the team is dealing with during this 2025 season. Aside from the bullpens' struggles, despite deadline moves, there's an even bigger glaring issue.
That issue is at shortstop, as Anthony Volpe hasn't played nearly to the standards of his previous few seasons, both at the plate and in the field. With uncertainty over a secure starting spot going forward, the Yankees might pivot.
Keegan Matheson and Mark Feinsand of MLB.com both identified a potential replacement for Volpe if the Yankees decide to address shortstop in free agency. Instead of Volpe, the Yankees could pivot to a Toronto Blue Jays shortstop who leads MLB in hits this season.
The Yankees could end the Anthony Volpe experience in favor of the Blue Jays' hits leader
The player that both Matheson and Feinsand identify as a potential fit for the Yankees is Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette. He's injured at the moment, but he'll be ready to go for the 2026 season and would be a great addition for the Yankees.
"... I'd roll in the Yankees, too." Matheson writes. "Even if he's signed as a 2B or 3B, Bichette is a bat that fits any lineup."
With Ryan McMahon and Jazz Chisholm securing third base and second base, respectively, Bichette's best fit for the Yankees is at shortstop. Replacing Volpe is a lot more reasonable than replacing McMahon or Chisholm, two players who've been good for New York in 2025.
"Of course," Fiensand writes, "I never discount the Dodgers and Yankees as potential landing spots, either. ... and the Anthony Volpe era could be ending as we speak."
Volpe in 2025 has a .208 batting average, down from his .243 the year prior, and his .667 OPS is below league average, yet it is his best of his MLB career. But what makes the Yankees' decision to go with Bichette over Volpe is the defensive side of the ball.
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Bichette isn't a great defender and is worse in some defensive statistics than Volpe, but Volpe's miscues lately have been too much, and with his lackluster offense, there's little reason to stick with Volpe as the starting shortstop.
Compared to Volpe's .667 OPS, Bichette has an .840 with a .311 batting average. Across 582 at-bats, Bichette has 181 hits, which leads all of MLB. Volpe, in 505 at-bats, has 105 hits.
It's a big difference offensively, which more than makes up for any defensive advantage Volpe has. Going by Baseball Savant's Outs Above Average, Volpe has negative nine, while Bichette is the worst shortstop at negative 13.
The defensive advantage Volpe has isn't enough, however, as the massive difference in offensive ability weighs heavily in Bichette's favor.
Bichette is 27 years old and is hitting free agency for the first time in his big league career. The Blue Jays' shortstop won't have the same market as other top shortstops due to his poor defense, but for the Yankees, stealing him from the Blue Jays to replace Volpe would be a move well worth it.
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