Anthony Volpes strong end to year gives him another chance at a Yankees future

In a season full of swings, Anthony Volpe nearly saved his best for last. Alas, what initially looked like a game-tying, two-run homer in Game 3 of the ALDS could not be saved by the second coming of Jeffrey Maier, and a few innings later, the Yankees were swept by the Rays.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.But Volpe’s near-moment, after a season in which he was twice demoted to Triple-A after losing his job as the Yankees starting shortstop, was a reminder that he may still have a place in the future of the organization, namely as their second baseman next season. There is a long way to go between now and whenever (or if) baseball begins in 2027 — due to the looming lockout — but as the Yankees enter the offseason, Volpe has at least given himself a chance to find a home again in pinstripes, as George Lombard Jr.’s double-play partner. “If we were going to go win a World Series, we needed Anthony Volpe on the team,” Aaron Judge said late Wednesday night.

“He’s an incredible player, not only the talent he has, but to handle that type of adversity — not only from the game, not playing your best and then hearing it from fans, hearing it from everybody, and then for him to go down to Triple-A, work on what he needed to and then come up here with a bang like he did, it speaks volumes to his character and the type of grit he has.” It was not long ago that Volpe was at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, looking like a player who might benefit from a change of scenery in a trade this offseason.It is not out of the question that the 25-year-old could still be dealt this winter, depending on how the Yankees offseason shakes out.

But with Jazz Chisholm Jr.headed to free agency and unlikely to return (despite his wishes), Volpe at the very least looks like a placeholder at second base, if not something more. In the Yankees’ five playoff games...