Anthony Volpe Trade Deadline Watch: Yankees Weigh Dealing Shortstop or Moving Him to Second Base as George Lombard Jr. Looms

Anthony Volpe’s name is trending for all the wrong reasons as Monday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline barrels toward the Yankees. According to a Tuesday report from NJ.com’s Bob Klapisch, the 25-year-old shortstop is squarely “on the bubble” in the Bronx, with the organization weighing whether to trade him, shift him to a new position, or ride out the season and sort things out later. The uncertainty around Volpe has become one of the defining storylines of New York’s deadline approach.

Volpe burst onto the scene as a slick-fielding, homegrown shortstop out of the Yankees’ farm system, quickly becoming a fan favorite for his defense and grit. But the bat has never caught up to the glove. Through 56 games this season, Volpe is hitting just .240 with 41 hits, one home run, 19 RBIs, 20 runs scored and seven stolen bases — modest offensive numbers that have chipped away at his standing in the lineup and opened the door for the Yankees to explore alternatives at shortstop.

Lombard Looms as the Long-Term Answer

The biggest reason for Volpe’s uncertain future has a name: George Lombard Jr. The 21-year-old is widely regarded as the shortstop of the future in New York, and according to Klapisch’s reporting, Yankees executives are actively debating whether to call him up from Triple-A in August, wait until September, or hold him back until 2027. Whichever timeline wins out, the report is unambiguous that Lombard will eventually take over the position from Volpe.

That looming transition has fueled speculation about Volpe’s next chapter. Some reporting, including from SI.com’s Devon Platana, has floated the Braves, Rockies and Reds as potential trade suitors who could use a defensively sound, cost-controlled shortstop. Volpe is signed for roughly $3.48 million this season, doesn’t reach arbitration until 2027, and isn’t a free agent until 2029 — team-friendly numbers that make him an appealing buy-low target for a club willing to bet on a bounce-back.

A Move to Second Base Instead of the Trade Block

Rather than moving him at the deadline, however, the more likely scenario inside the organization may be a positional shift. Klapisch’s report indicates the Yankees are seriously considering converting Volpe into a second baseman, with an eye toward eventually replacing Jazz Chisholm Jr. at the position if Chisholm departs in free agency this offseason. Evaluators believe Volpe’s range, athleticism and three-quarter arm slot translate well to the keystone, potentially giving the Yankees a path to keep his defense and youth in the fold without forcing an awkward timeshare at shortstop once Lombard arrives.

Volpe was out of the Yankees’ lineup recently as the deadline chatter intensified, adding fuel to speculation about his role for the stretch run. For fans tracking the latest line movement on how the Yankees’ deadline moves — or lack thereof — might shake out for the rest of the season, the live MLB odds page is updated in real time as sportsbooks react to roster news.

What Happens Next

With the deadline landing Monday, the next 48 hours will determine whether Volpe stays a Yankee at all — and if he does, whether that means holding down shortstop a little longer, working his way into a second base competition, or watching from the bench as Lombard’s timeline accelerates. General manager Brian Cashman has stayed publicly tight-lipped on specifics, but the flurry of reporting suggests a decision is close. Whatever direction the Yankees choose, it marks a pivotal crossroads for a player once viewed as the shortstop of New York’s future.

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