Yankees Could Land Expensive Anthony Volpe Replacement
The New York Yankees are looking to use free agency to come back stronger than ever in 2026. While the Pinstripes have been connected most notably to heavy-hitting outfielders like Kyle Tucker and flame-throwing starting pitchers like Tarik Skubal, there are other positions where they can add; name, shortstop.
The Yankees' current starting shortstop, Anthony Volpe, had a host of troubles in both 2025 and 2024. Now, New York is predicted to get a big name from a division rival: Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette.
Anthony Volpe's 2025 Struggles
Volpe was the target of much ire from Yankees fans and baseball analysts alike this season. While he slammed 19 home runs in 153 games, he also committed 19 errors, tying for third-most in the league. Volpe's other offensive stats weren't great either, and he slashed just .212/ .272/ .391 for an OPS of .663 in the regular season.
Now, the Yankees have revealed that Volpe was dealing with a partial labrum tear in his non-throwing left arm all season. He's since undergone surgery and is expected to miss the beginning of the 2026 season. While Yankees manager Aaron Boone denied that the injury impact Volpe's play, general manager Brian Cashman directly contradicted him, saying he believes it did.
What Could Bo Bichette Bring to the Yankees?
Bichette boasted much better numbers than Volpe during the regular season, slashing .311/ .357/ .483 for an OPS of .840, his best numbers since his 2019 debut. While he committed 12 errors and isn't a perfect defender, he'd bring a stronger bat to a team that was constantly criticized for leaving Volpe in the lineup.
There's downsides, though. Jim Bowden of The Athletic predicted that Bichette could command a contract worth $190 million over seven years, a much bigger spend than Volpe, who is set to make $3.25 million in 2026. Bichette is also injury prone, missing half the 2024 season due to various injuries.
While Bichette is a better bat than Volpe, it might be risky to spend a ton of money on a player who could get injured again when an existing player may bounce back after recovering fully himself. Plus, Bichette has made it clear he does not want to leave Toronto, a team he could very well win the World Series with in less than a week. The Yankees have five days after the end of the World Series before being able to sign free agents from other teams, including Bichette.
Left Tackle Josh Simmons’ Return to Chiefs Gets New Update
The Kansas City Chiefs spent their first-round pick on left tackle Josh Simmons, who was working out swimmingly until he stopped showing up to games.
Simmons has been absent from the team’s last three contests, all wins, due to undisclosed family issues. Head coach Andy Reid offered some mild elaboration on the topic last week.
“My update for you on Josh would just be, there’s communication,” Reid told reporters on October 23. “I’m not going to get into all of it. Everything’s positive. It’s not a negative situation. He’s taking care of family.”
Albert Breer of SI offered the most recent update on Simmons’ status in his Tuesday column.
What I know is that the issue first arose just before the Jaguars game. Simmons ended up playing in that matchup, then left right before the Lions game. The cited family aspect of his absence is real, and that was a part of the background that teams had to work through when he was coming out.
Here’s the other detail that’s important: If the Chiefs felt like this was going to be an absence of more than a month, they would’ve placed him on the non-football injury list. So the timeline, as they worked with Simmons (and they’ve been in constant communication with him of late), has been more week-to-week than long-term. And getting Simmons back is another reason to believe the Chiefs are only going to get better over the months to come.
Josh Simmons Likely to Return to Chiefs Soon
GettyKansas City Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons.
The implication from Breer is that Simmons could be back as early as next week against the Buffalo Bills.
However, Nate Davis of ESPN predicted that the tackle’s return would come during Kansas City’s bye the following week.
“A logical time for Simmons to return to the Chiefs could be in early November during the team’s bye week,” Davis wrote on October 24.
Kansas City has won three contests in a row and five out of six games, including on “Monday Night Football” over the Washington Commanders on October 27.
After the game against the Bills in Buffalo and their bye week, the Chiefs travel to Denver to take on the Broncos and then host the Indianapolis Colts (7-1), currently the organization with the best record in the NFL.
Jaylon Moore Filling in Nicely for Absent Josh Simmons
GettyOffensive tackle Jaylon Moore of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kansas City’s recent success — particularly on the offensive side of the ball, where the Chiefs are averaging just under 31 points per game over their last five outings — is particularly encouraging because it came without Simmons in the lineup.
The 22-year-old product out of Ohio State fulfilled the team’s top priority over the offseason, which was to improve an offensive line that cost Kansas City its third consecutive Super Bowl title in January.
“The two-year, $30 million deal the Chiefs gave Jaylon Moore in the offseason, even if he’s not the starting left tackle they paid him to be, is money well spent,” Breer continued. “The Chiefs have depth at those positions that they didn’t before. Last year, a black hole at left tackle forced the team to move Joe Thuney there, setting off a cascade that blew up in the team’s Super Bowl loss. They’ll likely have no such problem this year.”
