A few days after the New York Yankees were eliminated in the ALDS by the Toronto Blue Jays, shortstop Anthony Volpe underwent shoulder surgery to repair a partially torn labrum.
Volpe's job security is in question this offseason after his struggles on both sides of the ball in 2025. Jose Caballero is likely to be the Yankees' starting shortstop on Opening Day.
Regardless, New York pursued depth at the middle infield position.
According to his MLB.com profile, ex-Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros shortstop Zack Short signed a minor league contract with the Yankees on December 12. Short, 30, is a five-year veteran and former 17th-round draft pick by the Chicago Cubs in 2016.
Short's tenure with the Astros
Short played college baseball at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut and has made appearances with five teams since his debut in 2021. He played a career high 110 games with the Detroit Tigers in 2023, hitting.204/.292/.339 with a.631 OPS and seven home runs in 253 plate appearances.
In 2025, the 5-foot-10 right-handed hitter played 22 games with the Houston Astros, but spent most of the year at Triple-A Sugar Land. Short made 15 starts at shortstop with the Astros.
If Short does not crack the Yankees' Opening Day roster, he will serve as useful depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. His signing could be considered extra insurance if Volpe requires more time on the injured list than anticipated.
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