Logo

Access the Yankees beat like never before

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.

Try it free

The Yankees’ list of needs before the July 31 trade deadline is growing by the day.

Shortstop will not be one of them.

Anthony Volpe is in the midst of another rough stretch in the third year of his notoriously streaky big league career, but the Yankees have continued to double down on their faith in him, with general manager Brian Cashman offering the latest vote of confidence on Wednesday.

“He’s our shortstop,” Cashman said at Yankee Stadium before a 9-6 win over the Mariners in which Volpe went 1-for-4 but was thrown out stretch his second-inning hit into a double. “I don’t forget where [Volpe] was and what he was doing on the biggest stage of the game last October. Despite the twists and turns of how his season is currently playing out, there’s a lot of season left to be played.

“I’m not counting him out. I know he’s going to be part of the solution rather than the problem.”

The 24-year-old Volpe, who hit .286 with a .815 OPS in 14 playoff games last year as one of the Yankees’ most consistent bats on the way to the World Series, got off to a solid start this season before falling off of late.

Over his previous 22 games before Wednesday, he was batting just .115 (9-for-78) with a .426 OPS and 22 strikeouts. On the year, he was batting .217 with a .686 OPS.

“He certainly can come join the [offensive] party sooner than later, and I believe he will,” Cashman said. “I just have a high belief in him. But peaks and valleys are part of a six-month season. … I do not consider him a problem. I understand that there are struggles there, but I believe he’ll be fine.”


  Anthony Volpe is tagged out at second base trying to stretch a single into a double during the second inning of the Yankees’ 9-6 win over the Mariners on July 9, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Anthony Volpe is tagged out at second base trying to stretch a single into a double during the second inning of the Yankees’ 9-6 win over the Mariners on July 9, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Volpe’s defensive metrics have also taken a step back this season, especially from his Gold Glove season as a rookie in 2023.

Asked about that, Cashman first referenced Volpe being a “grinder” who has played through things — he injured his left shoulder on May 3 and got hit by a pitch on his left elbow on June 6.

“I know he’s one of the better defensive shortstops in the game, but I also know that, yeah, there’s times that hasn’t played out this year as much,” Cashman said. “There’s probably a lot of different reasons why. Him playing through things, to be able to post on a daily basis — that’s another thing I admire about the guy is he posts every day. I think he’ll be fine. I think we’ll be fine with him.”


  Brian Cashman backed Anthony Volpe on Wednesday. JASON SZENES/NEW YORK POST Brian Cashman backed Anthony Volpe on Wednesday. JASON SZENES/NEW YORK POST

The need for bullpen help was only emphasized Wednesday as Jonathan Loáisiga gave up a pair of two-run homers to make it a tighter game than needed late.

The righty has given up six home runs in 22 ¹/₃ innings this season after allowing just five in 69 ²/₃ innings from 2022-2024.

Nevertheless, Luke Weaver, who had a brutal last week, looked sharper in 1 ²/₃ scoreless innings before Devin Williams closed it out with a perfect ninth inning for his 13th save.

It is the month of Hug Watch, but that was not the case Tuesday night for two outfielders scratched from the lineup at the Yankees Triple-A affiliate.

Everson Pereira was scratched Tuesday with general sickness and Bryan De La Cruz with an oblique issue, and both remained out of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lineup Wednesday afternoon.

Their absences raised the alarm bell for a possible trade — Pereira more so than De La Cruz — but at least for now, that was not why they were out with just over three weeks to go until the trade deadline.

For the second time in a week, Geoff Hartlieb was designated for assignment Wednesday, this time to make room on the roster for Cam Schlittler to be called up to make his MLB debut.

Hartlieb gave up three runs in one-third of an inning Tuesday while pitching the eighth inning of a game the Yankees led 10-0.

Last week, before he was sent out, he gave up three runs in an inning against the Blue Jays.

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy