Yankees predicted to sign $16M Gold Glover to fill void after Anthony Volpe's injury news

The New York Yankees are coming off a rather disappointing season, feeling as though they could have accomplished more than they did. One of the most frustrating spots last year was the shortstop position, and now Anthony Volpe will miss the start of the 2026 season.

“Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that Volpe won't swing a bat for at least four months and will be unable to dive on his surgically repaired left shoulder for six months. Cashman added that the Yankees hope Volpe will be ready 'sometime in April; maybe, worst-case scenario, May.' The Yankees open the 2026 season in San Francisco against the Giants on March 25,” ESPN’s Jorge Castillo wrote.

With Volpe sidelined and questions lingering about his readiness, the Yankees are expected to explore the market for a short-term — perhaps even insurance — shortstop. Ha-Seong Kim is a name to watch.

“If they sign Kim this offseason, they'll be able to plug both Caballero and Kim into multiple roles as the week unfurls. They'll have more opportunities to get creative. And, yes, they'll have a Gold Glover who can play shortstop on days when Caballero slots in elsewhere, plus a right-handed platoon solution for Ryan McMahon,” Yanks Goes Yard’s Adam Weinrib wrote.

Kim officially became a free agent earlier this week when he opted out of his player option with the Atlanta Braves.

“Kim became a free agent on Monday when he opted out of his $16 million option for the 2026 season. For the Braves, this simply erases the exclusive negotiating rights they held since they had claimed the former Gold Glove Award winner off waivers from the Rays on Sept. 1,” Braves insider Mark Bowman wrote.

Kim was at the top of his game when he was with the San Diego Padres. If he can return to that form, he has the potential to be an everyday starter.

Now, the Braves could make things difficult for the Yankees. Kim’s market will be more intriguing if he is guaranteed an everyday role, making this offseason battle a challenging one for New York to win

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