While the right side is locked down by Ben Rice and Silver Slugger winner Jazz Chisholm Jr., the weak bats of Anthony Volpe and Ryan McMahon were a key reason for the Yankees’ 2025 postseason exit.
NEW YORK — Though the New York Yankees have many pressing issues this winter (namely, the outfield), their infield is not a “problem” at first glance. If they make no changes, the 2026 starters will be Ben Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Anthony Volpe, and Ryan McMahon.
It’s not a bad starting four. But if New York wants any chance of capitalizing on Aaron Judge’s golden years, they must be aggressive and pursue improvements, particularly on the left side of the infield.
The Yankees’ offense “got completely exposed” in the postseason against the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. A collective cold streak from the infield was a big reason why they couldn’t advance past the Division Series.
The Problem: A Tale of Two Infields
The Yankees’ infield is split in two:
- The Right Side (Locked Up): Jazz Chisholm Jr. (a 2025 Silver Slugger winner) and Ben Rice (a Silver Slugger finalist) are elite offensive forces.
- The Left Side (The Liability): At shortstop and third base, things aren’t as great. Volpe is coming off, in many aspects, the worst year of his career, and McMahon’s bat remains a liability in spite of his Gold Glove defense.
The Volpe Dilemma
By all accounts, the Yankees are still “all-in” on Anthony Volpe. General manager Brian Cashman attributed his “defensive collapse” and anemic .663 OPS to the torn labrum he suffered in May.
However, the organization was “fervent” at the time that the injury was “nothing serious,” allowing Volpe to keep the starting job. The team also has Jose Caballero, a trade deadline acquisition who “looked much better than Volpe” when given playing time. It’s almost a guarantee that one of these two will start at shortstop.
The Third Base Opportunity: Platoon or Replace?
Third base is the clear spot for an offensive upgrade. Ryan McMahon slashed a dismal .208/.308/.333 for the Yankees and Rockies last season. He remains an above-replacement level player (2.3 bWAR) thanks only to his superb fielding.
With several solid third basemen on the open market, New York might consider either replacing McMahon or signing a bat to platoon with him.
- The Platoon Option: One name that comes to mind is Munetaka Murakami, the Japanese power-hitter set to be posted by the Yakult Swallows. He is a strong, left-handed power hitter who could “platoon beautifully” with the left-handed McMahon (who, despite being a lefty, hits lefties better).
- The Replacement Option: Other free agents include Alex Bregman, Eugenio Suárez, Paul DeJong, and Yoán Moncada. A player like Bregman or Suárez would not platoon; they would have to start, forcing the Gold Glove-winning McMahon to the bench.
This is especially critical if the Yankees fail to re-sign Cody Bellinger or land Kyle Tucker.
At the end of the day, if the Yankees want a high-powered, deep offense, they must bring in one or more infielders to bulk up the left side. Their weak bats at third and short were “completely exposed” in October, and if they want to avoid another quick exit, they must acquire the talent to make a real postseason run.
