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The New York Yankees may have just been handed an uncomfortable decision—one that has nothing to do with batting average and everything to do with the calendar.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Yankees could theoretically manipulate Anthony Volpe’s service time once he returns from shoulder surgery. It’s not a move anyone publicly campaigns for, but it suddenly feels less far-fetched than it did a month ago.
Volpe made the Opening Day roster in 2023 and has never looked back—at least in terms of service time. He now sits at three full years of MLB service. Under the current structure, he would be eligible for free agency after the 2028 season.
Unless the Yankees decide otherwise.
Sherman outlined the scenario plainly: players continue to accrue service time while on the major league injured list. But once Volpe is healthy enough to be activated, the Yankees could option him to Triple-A for at least 20 days. That brief stint would push his free agency back by a full year, giving New York control through 2029 rather than 2028.
That’s not insignificant. One extra year of control matters—financially, strategically, and in trade discussions.
The Business Angle Is Obvious
Service time manipulation is not new in baseball. Teams have used it with top prospects for years. But doing it with an established big leaguer coming off surgery? That’s murkier territory.
Volpe already entered arbitration this year at nearly $4 million. If he struggles again in 2026—especially coming off shoulder surgery—the Yankees could justify a minor league “rehab” assignment framed as developmental rather than financial. That same assignment would conveniently save them millions in the long run and extend team control.
From a front-office perspective, it’s clean math.
Volpe has posted a .222 career average, a .662 OPS, and an 84 OPS+. His 2025 season saw his defense slip dramatically, dropping from +13 Outs Above Average in 2024 to -6. If the Yankees argue he needs time to rebuild mechanics after surgery, few could dispute it.
But fans would see right through it.
The Optics Could Be Brutal
The Yankees have already walked a delicate line with Volpe’s development. They let him grind through offensive struggles for multiple seasons. They allowed him to play through what turned out to be a significant shoulder issue. Now, if they send him to the minors immediately upon activation, the move would carry a heavy subtext.
It would signal doubt.
Manager Aaron Boone has continued to preach patience, emphasizing that player development isn’t linear. That’s true. But the Yankees also traded for depth, including versatile infielders capable of covering shortstop if needed. If one of them—like Jose Caballero—performs well in Volpe’s absence, the club suddenly has plausible competitive cover for a business-driven move.
That’s where Sherman’s theory becomes realistic.
Twenty days in Triple-A could be framed as ramp-up time. It could also quietly alter the franchise timeline.
And here’s the uncomfortable truth: if the Yankees don’t view Volpe as a long-term cornerstone anymore, that extra year of control increases his trade value. Teams covet controllable players. Even a struggling shortstop with upside becomes more attractive when he comes with five years instead of four.
There is, however, a downside beyond public perception.
If Volpe rebounds and becomes the player the Yankees once envisioned, manipulating his service time could damage trust. Players notice these moves. Agents remember them. The clubhouse pays attention.
And if Volpe struggles again, the Yankees may simply be delaying the inevitable rather than solving it.
The cleanest outcome remains simple: Volpe returns, performs well, and removes any incentive for creative accounting.
But Sherman’s blueprint introduces a new variable into the equation—one that turns a routine rehab timeline into a strategic crossroads.
For a franchise that insists it prioritizes winning above all else, the next decision surrounding Anthony Volpe may reveal whether it prioritizes control just as much.
Alvin Garcia Born in Puerto Rico, Alvin Garcia is a sports writer for Heavy.com who focuses on MLB. His work has appeared on FanSided, LWOS, NewsBreak, Athlon Sports, and Yardbarker, covering mostly baseball. More about Alvin Garcia
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