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ORLANDO, Fla. — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman stated during his Winter Meetings interviews this week that he still believes in Anthony Volpe even though the hitting has been a disappointment since his rookie season in 2023 and the fielding was a big problem this year.
He also mentioned his affection for speedy super-utility player Jose Caballero, who currently is slated to start at short next season at least until Volpe returns in late April or May from offseason labrum surgery.
Meantime, the Yankees actively are looking to get a whole lot better at shortstop.
Cashman has initiated trade talks with the Rangers for shortstop Corey Seager, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday.
Grant wrote “according to two people with knowledge of the conversations, the Yankees, Red Sox and Braves have “inquired” about Seager.
Grant added, “While the Rangers have noted the interest and haven’t explicitly said (Seager’s) unavailable, they haven’t engaged in deeper discussions.”
Seager, who turns 32 in April, is a five-time All-Star, but he’s been injury prone throughout his career and has $186 million left on a 10-year, $325-million contract.
According to Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young, Texas plans to cut payroll from $226 million in 2025 to around $200 million next season. The subtracting can be pulled off by trading Seager.
The Yankees were a favorite to sign Seager when he was a free agent four winters ago because Gleyber Torres was failing at short, but they opted to bring in Isiah Kiner-Falefa as a stopgap until Volpe, then their No. 1 prospect, was ready.
If the Yankees pull off a trade for Seager, it would give them another left-handed bat in a lineup that’s filled with them. One way not to add to their lefty-bat problem could be packaging All-Star second baseman Jazz Chisholm in a Seager trade. Chisholm bats left and is one season away from free agent.
With Seager in and Chisholm out, the Yankees could move Volpe to second base.
This scenario also probably would lead to George Lombard Jr., the Yankees’ current top prospect, moving from shortstop in the future, perhaps to second or maybe third base. The 2023 No. 1 draft pick probably will start next season back in Double-A.
The Yankees love 2025 trade-deadline acquisition Ryan McMahon’s defense at third, but hes a left-handed bat who hits for a low average and strikes out a lot. Also, he’s owed $16 million in 2026 and $16 million in 2026.
A Yankees trade for Seager also probably would require owner Hal Steinbrenner to come off his desire to drop payroll from around $304 million in 2025 to the high $200 millions in 2026. Seager is owed $31 million for the next six seasons.
Seager has had some big offensive years, especially in 2023 when he hit .327 with 33 homers and 96 RBI in 119 for the Rangers. He’s also been a modern-day Mr. October winning World Series MVPs leading the Dodgers to a championship in 2020 and the Rangers to their first title in 2023.
But something the Yankees can’t ignore before signing off on a deal is Seager’s history of injuries.
He’s averaged only 100 games over the last eight seasons and played just 102 in 2025 due to two stints on the IL with a hamstring strain. He also was sidelined with a rib issue in 2024, a broken hand in 2021, a hamstring strain in 2019 and UCL surgery in 2018.