At the start of spring training, the Yankees have made it clear that 2026 will be a year of important decisions. While Anthony Volpe continues his rehabilitation following left shoulder surgery, the organization has begun exploring alternatives at shortstop, including an experiment that has drawn attention: Ryan McMahon.
The usual third baseman is being evaluated as a possible backup at the position, according to a report from New York Post Sports.
The move, seemingly precautionary, comes at a particularly delicate moment for Volpe. The shortstop spoke this week for the first time since his October operation, a procedure that revealed more damage than expected.
Even so, the player refused to use the injury as an explanation for his inconsistent 2025 campaign. “I know I could have played better,” he told the New York Post. “I felt strong and good enough to keep going. If that hadn’t been the case, I wouldn’t have done it.”
Volpe explained that after injuring himself on May 3 during a defensive play, his left shoulder “didn’t feel like the right one,” discomfort that lingered for months. The result was his most inconsistent season: unusual defensive errors and offensive production that ended at a .212 batting average, a .663 OPS, and 19 home runs. For a player who won a Gold Glove as a rookie in 2023, the regression was evident.
Will Volpe be ready?
Rehabilitation has not been simple either. Volpe described the first stage of the process as feeling like he had hit rock bottom physically. As the weeks passed, however, he began to regain mobility and strength.
“Probably at the beginning of the new year is when I started to feel good,” he said. He is currently fielding ground balls, completing defensive routines, and has begun his hitting progression with dry swings.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are looking to cover the temporary gap at shortstop. Jose Caballero will open the season as the starter, but the organization wants to expand its margin for maneuver. That is where the plan with McMahon comes in, whose defensive versatility and offensive production against right-handed pitchers make him an interesting option. Although officially it is not a message to Volpe, the move inevitably adds pressure in a year that will be decisive for his future.
Volpe, however, maintains a defiant stance and aims to return. If everything goes according to the established plan, he should be in position by late April or early May.
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