BOONE NEEDS TO STOP FORCING VOLPE ON US FANS...

Meanwhile, maybe Volpe has a tiny bit of trade value these days hitting .260 that we can finally get rid of him by the trade deadline. Alot to talk about, huh?

I mean, Anthony Volpe's batting average is finally climbing, and predictably, the Yankees are treating it like validation. It isn't.

A hot stretch at the plate doesn't erase what fans have watched for months—an increasingly unreliable defensive shortstop who continues to make mistakes at the most important position on the infield.

If anything, Volpe's recent offensive surge has given Brian Cashman exactly what he needs: an opportunity to sell high before the rest of baseball remembers why his value dropped in the first place. That's my hot take. Get rid of this kid while we still can.  The Yankees' front office has spent the better part of three seasons trying to convince everyone that Volpe is the franchise shortstop. Every slump is met with another vote of confidence. Every error is brushed aside as part of the learning process. Every brief offensive streak is treated as proof that the organization was right all along.

At some point, enough is enough. The Yankees aren't rebuilding. They're supposed to be chasing championships. Instead, fans continue to watch a player who was advertised as a Gold Glove-caliber defender struggle with routine plays, inconsistent throws, questionable decisions, and defensive lapses that simply cannot happen from a Major League shortstop.

The most frustrating part is that there is already a better defensive option on the roster. Jose Caballero.

Yet Aaron Boone continues to move Caballero all over the diamond while stubbornly keeping Volpe planted at shortstop. Caballero... Third base. Outfield. Anywhere but the position where many fans believe he could immediately improve the Yankees' defense.

It's hard not to wonder what exactly Boone is trying to accomplish. Keeping Caballero in the lineup while refusing to let him play shortstop doesn't solve the Yankees' biggest defensive issue. It simply moves a quality defender away from the position where he could have the greatest impact.

Nobody is fooled by the revolving door of defensive alignments.

If Caballero is one of your best infield defenders, and he is, then let him play the premium infield position. Instead, Boone appears completely committed to Volpe, regardless of the results.

Whether it's loyalty, belief in Volpe's long-term potential, or simply refusing to admit the organization may have overestimated him, the Yankees continue doubling down while fans watch the same mistakes happen over and over again.

Yes, Volpe has raised his batting average. Good. That's his job. But to me, that still doesn't outweigh the defensive problems. A championship-caliber shortstop has to save runs just as often as he creates them, and too often Volpe has done the opposite.

That's exactly why the Yankees should capitalize while his value is trending upward. Several clubs around baseball could still view Volpe as a young player capable of reaching the ceiling that made him one of baseball's top prospects.

The Seattle Mariners immediately stand out as a logical partner. They are constantly searching for more offensive production and have the pitching depth to make an intriguing deal. The Yankees could target starter Bryan Woo or right-hander Logan Gilbert if Seattle believed Volpe could become its long-term answer in the infield. Either arm would immediately strengthen a Yankees rotation built to contend now.

Another intriguing match is the Miami Marlins. They're in a position to gamble on young, controllable talent while continuing their rebuild. The Yankees could inquire about left-handed ace Sandy Alcantara. Volpe's pedigree may still carry weight with an organization looking toward the future.

Would those deals require additional prospects? Absolutely. But that's exactly the point. Volpe's value may never be higher than it is today. His batting average has people talking again. The Yankees should take advantage before another stretch of defensive miscues reminds everyone why so many fans have lost confidence in him as the everyday shortstop.

This organization has spent years trying to force Anthony Volpe into becoming the face of the Yankees' infield. Maybe it's time to stop forcing the issue. Maybe it's time to let Jose Caballero play the position he plays best.

And maybe it's finally time for the Yankees to admit that Anthony Volpe simply isn't the answer at shortstop.

I'm done with this front office and this kid they are forcing on us. The worst mistake since trading away Jay Buhner.