Yankees let Anthony Volpe problem loom large again with magnifying injury comments

The start of Anthony Volpe's postseason had Yankees fans ... wondering. Simply wondering, that's all. The shortstop went 2-for-3 with a homer off Garrett Crochet in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series and played solid defense. He also logged an RBI in the do-or-die Game 3. He scored the only run in Game 1 of the ALDS thanks to his double off Kevin Gausman.

And then ... it all cratered. The warning signs were there, though. Volpe went 5-for-15 in those first four games, but struck out seven times. Not necessarily egregious; but not good.

He finished off the final three games against the Blue Jays going 0-for-11 with nine strikeouts. His 16 strikeouts, as of play through Wednesday, were the most of anybody in the playoffs, and five higher than the next worst (Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has played in one fewer game).

The Yankees didn't care, though. They watched Volpe swing out of his shoes or watch strikes float over the middle of the plate on their way to another early postseason elimination under Aaron Boone. Volpe isn't the reason they are going home, but he didn't help one bit when the team was desperate for timely offensive production the last three games.

That's Volpe's profile, though. And it's something the Yankees have yet to catch onto. His output comes in random bursts before disappearing on a dime, with the team seemingly thinking the abruptness won't be so aggressive the next time around. Somehow, it's almost always worse.

Not to mention, Volpe has been dealing with a shoulder injury since May. He received a cortisone shot in July and then another in September. He missed the most time of his career a few weeks when Jose Caballero held down the fort after that second injection. The team looked better when they were mixing and matching the two, but that strategy was never considered in the playoffs.

Following the Yankees' Game 4 loss and elimination at the hands of the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays, Volpe said he didn't know if he'd need shoulder surgery in the offseason.

Anhony Volpe injury can't be an overlooked Yankees offseason storyline

Just know he was still playing injured! Just know Caballero got four at-bats in the Yankees' seven postseason games and came in to replace third baseman Ryan McMahon. Never Volpe! Manager Aaron Boone refused to pinch hit for Volpe in the bottom of the seventh on Wednesday with one out and a runner one. Volpe struck out. The next batter, pinch-hitter Amed Rosario, singled.

That might not have changed the game, but it would've at least given the Yankees a chance. Volpe was 0 for his last 12 with nine strikeouts. That is the definition of a hitter you take out in the later innings of a win-or-go-home game.

Volpe is projected to make $3.9 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility next year. There are already swirling questions swirling about his status for 2026. Can the Yankees stomach another year of this? Would they have even been in this conundrum had they addressed his injury and gave him the proper time off or split his playing time with somebody else.

The most heated debate surrounding the regular-season Yankees ended up simmering in the playoffs because of a number of other glaring issues, from the starting rotation to Aaron Judge's supporting cast, to the defense. But now that it's all over, Volpe should return to the forefront, and it won't be an enjoyable conversation for the next five months.