The New York Yankees didn’t build their legacy by handing out free passes for potential. Yet here we are—Anthony Volpe, once the Gold Glove darling of the Bronx, is now tossing away leads and confidence with equal flair. If defense wins championships, Volpe’s current form might be losing more than just games. With the deadline looming, the Yankees can’t afford to let loyalty blind them to better leather.

Before the season started, the Yankees thought problems were at third base. While that remains a problem, the shortstop has suddenly become a black hole for mistakes. Anthony Volpe, who had a decent rookie year and an average second year, has hit a low so bad that everybody wants him gone. Amid this, Jon Heyman has given the Yankees two players who might be a good fit at shortstop for them.

In his recent episode of The Show with Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman, they talked about the problems the Yankees are facing at SS. That is when Heyman said, “It’s basically a black hole at this point… I mean, they might do like an IKF or Renifo as at least a placeholder at third because I don’t think you go many weeks with guys hitting .149 at third base.”

Volpe’s 2025 season has taken a sharp turn from promise to concern. Once a Gold Glove winner, he’s now tied for 19th in Outs Above Average with zero impact. Leading the American League with 11 errors, Volpe has cost the Yankees both runs and momentum. Offensively, he’s also faltering, with diminishing production and negative base-running value dragging his WAR downward.

In recent games, poor defensive choices have directly shifted the scoreboard against New York. Ill-advised throws, like the one past Jazz Chisholm Jr., have gifted opponents free bases. His decision-making under pressure shows regression from the poised rookie he once was. If this decline continues, the Yankees’ postseason hopes may crumble under defensive miscues and missed opportunities.

The Yankees thought third base was the fire—turns out, shortstop lit the match. What was once a defensive cornerstone in Volpe has eroded into a nightly liability. If New York doesn’t act soon, it’ll be fielding regrets instead of groundballs. Loyalty is admirable, but October baseball doesn’t wait for a comeback arc. Sometimes, the best way to fix a black hole is to stop throwing into it.

Yankees might not even need to spend on shortstop if they listen to A-Rod

The Yankees have never lacked cash, but sometimes what they need most is common sense. As Volpe turns shortstop into a nightly adventure, Alex Rodriguez—never shy with advice—might’ve just handed them a no-cost correction. While front offices debate trades and placeholders, Rodriguez is out here offering clarity the Yankees desperately need. And no, it doesn’t involve another overpaid savior or a minor league bandage pretending to be a solution.

Volpe’s season began like a spark, but that spark’s now burning the Yankees’ chances. After hitting .237 with a .784 OPS and five homers in his first 31 games, he vanished. Over his last 24 games, he’s slashing .171 with a brutal .472 OPS, barely helping the lineup. Worse, his fielding collapsed—11 errors, .966 fielding percentage, and a defensive percentile drop from 97th to 17th.

A-Rod didn’t just criticize—he offered a clear vision for revival and team success. “I would trade Volpe’s home runs and RBIs… for a .280 batting average,” he said. A-Rod wants 10–12 homers, 65–75 RBIs, 40 steals, and elite defense instead. That formula turns Volpe into a reliable, postseason-ready shortstop—not a stat-sheet mirage dragging down October dreams.

Rodriguez’s fix isn’t about flash—it’s about contact, consistency, and championship-caliber baseball every night. “You just cannot win a World Series with any player… It’s just not acceptable,” he said. If the Yankees want to survive the slump, they must rescue Volpe before he takes them under.

The hook? Rodriguez didn’t suggest a blockbuster—he suggested a backbone. The Yankees don’t need to swipe the payroll card again; they need to recalibrate expectations and demand fundamentals. If Volpe can’t be the guy A-Rod described, then maybe he shouldn’t be the guy. Championship teams aren’t built on hope, they’re built on habits—and right now, Volpe’s are breaking. Bronx patience is legendary, but even legends run out of innings.