What happened: Joel Sherman projects major-league-ready prospect George Lombard Jr. as the New York Yankees' primary option at shortstop now and going forward. The assessment follows offseason evaluations positioning the club to move on from Jazz Chisholm at second base after inconsistent play from Anthony Volpe.

Why it matters: Locking Lombard Jr. into the shortstop job gives New York a cost-controlled defensive anchor with future Gold Glove projections on the left side of the infield. Shifting the shortstop succession plan into the present also forces the front office to clarify Volpe's role and address the vacancy at second base.

What to watch: New York's offseason roster decisions at second base and across the infield will determine how the middle-infield alignment settles before spring training.