The New York Yankees stuck by Antony Volpe last season despite a shoulder injury, defensive woes and continued offensive struggles. Could they be interested in a change?

Nothing the Yankees have said indicates they are looking to move on from Volpe at this time. He had surgery in the offseason and could miss some time to start the year. However, if a clear upgrade with club control is available and the Yankees have an opportunity to get a better shortstop, it may be difficult for Brian Cashman not to pull the trigger.

According to The Athletic’s Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal, the Washington Nationals are “open to conversations” on trading CJ Abrams, their talented All-Star shortstop. The Nationals may be looking at the future, having already traded for one top prospect this winter. Abrams could yield them a haul that pays off down the line.

If Abrams is available, many teams would seemingly be interested. He slashed .257/.315/.433 with 19 home runs last season. He was an All-Star in 2024 and is under club control through 2028. He is a young star who could thrive on a contender.

Specifically for the Yankees, Abrams could find great success at Yankee Stadium. Nationals Park is a below-average venue for left-handed hitters to hit home runs over the last three years. Meanwhile, Yankee Stadium clocks in as the fifth-best venue for left-handed hitters to hit homers, per Baseball Savant.

Defensively, Abrams is not a great shortstop. However, neither was Volpe last season. That’s not to say the Yankees do not care about defense, but they may be willing to deal with it if they can get a substantial offensive upgrade over Volpe. It would take a massive offer to get Abrams away from the Nationals. However, it would be a move that instantly makes the Yankees better.

A deal for Abrams remains unlikely as teams may be unwilling to meet the asking price. However, the offseason is full of surprises and the Yankees may be eager to make a big move after watching their division rival, the Toronto Blue Jays, stay aggressive after a trip to the World Series.

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