Yankees Mailbag: Mason Miller’s availability and Volpe’s struggles

June 13, 2026 - 05:04

The latest Yankees mailbag tackles two pressing questions: the realistic odds of trading for Oakland's flamethrowing closer Mason Miller, and the ongoing offensive struggles of shortstop Anthony Volpe.

On Miller, the math is simple but painful. The A's have no reason to move a 25-year-old with a 100 mph fastball and four years of team control left. Even if they listen, the asking price would start with one of the Yankees' top prospects like Jasson Dominguez or Spencer Jones, plus more. For a team that already has Clay Holmes closing and a bullpen that ranks among the league's best in strikeout rate, giving up that kind of future talent for a reliever -- even an elite one -- is a tough sell. The front office has shown restraint in past deadlines, and this feels like another case where the cost outweighs the benefit.

As for Volpe, the numbers are concerning. After a promising rookie season that featured 20 homers and 24 steals, he's hitting below .240 in June with a strikeout rate climbing toward 30 percent. The issue appears mechanical. He's pulling off the ball too early, leaving him vulnerable to off-speed stuff away. Defensively, he remains a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop, but the lineup can't afford a black hole in the seven-hole. The team is hoping a return to a simpler approach at the plate -- focusing on the middle of the field -- will snap him out of it. If not, the whispers about a demotion to Triple-A will only get louder.