Volpe’s season remains a problem child for fantasy rosters—plate struggles, defensive miscues, and slower baserunning have kept him well off the fantasy radar. The Yankees publicly back him, even as they add José Caballero as a plausible shortstop option, signaling a real basketball-on-the-wall moment for Volpe’s long-term job security.

Meanwhile, Fernando Cruz returning with a reinvigorated splitter could stabilize a bullpen in desperate need, and Austin Slater’s hamstring rehab offers a left-handed pinch-hitting/pinning option off the bench. Aaron Judge’s 150-foot throwing progress and Boone’s silence about a quick return keep the Yankees in a mixed-pitch mode—hopeful for a late surge against divisional rivals like Boston and Toronto.

Public confidence, bullpen depth, and bench versatility are the thread here: the Yankees must balance Volpe’s growth with meaningful corrective pieces as they chase a meaningful finish and divergent fantasy signals from Cruz, Slater, and Caballero figure into the late-season mix.