Anthony Volpe is out of the lineup as the Yankees open their series against the Nationals. It’s the second straight game in which José Caballero gets the start at shortstop. New York is giving the scuffling Volpe what amounts to a two-day mental reset. However, manager Aaron Boone made clear this evening that the Yankees aren’t moving the third-year infielder to the bench.
“I view Anthony as our shortstop,” Boone told reporters (including Chris Kirschner of The Athletic). The skipper confirmed that Volpe would be back in the lineup tomorrow and continue playing regularly from that point. He added that the Yanks consider Caballero their “10th man” and will keep bouncing him around the diamond in a utility role (via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com).
Volpe is hitting .208/.274/.400 across 509 plate appearances. He had a productive April but carries a .198/.255/.382 batting line in 96 games since the beginning of May. Volpe has never hit for a high average or reached base at a strong clip. He’s tied with Dansby Swanson for eighth among shortstops with 18 home runs, but he hasn’t been a productive overall hitter. The struggles have magnified over the past six weeks, as he’s batting .171 with a .203 on-base percentage going back to July 1. Among 253 hitters with at least 100 plate appearances in that stretch, only Miami’s Dane Myers has a lower batting average. No one has a worse on-base mark.
The offensive drought is magnified by his uncharacteristic issues on the other side of the ball. Volpe won a Gold Glove as a rookie in 2023; he was a finalist for that honor last year. He trailed only Swanson and Ezequiel Tovar in combined Defensive Runs Saved among shortstops over those two seasons. Statcast’s Outs Above Average had him tied for seventh. Even with the OBP deficiencies, Volpe’s power and plus defense made him a valuable all-around player. The Yankees presumably felt he was on a similar trajectory as Swanson, an eventual everyday shortstop on a World Series team who received a $177MM free agent contract.
Volpe’s defensive grades have tanked this year as well. DRS has him right around average. Statcast has him five runs below par, tying him for fourth worst at the position. Volpe has committed 17 errors, matching his career high with another month to play. Only Elly De La Cruz (19) has been charged with more this season.
Caballero, acquired from the Rays at the deadline, has gotten out to a fantastic start to his Yankee tenure. He’s hitting .286 with more walks than strikeouts in 15 games. Caballero has stolen six bases in seven tries and is up to an MLB-high 40 steals between Tampa Bay and New York. He led the American League with 44 steals last year, though he was also caught a league leading 16 times. Caballero is a plus runner and versatile defender but is unlikely to remain an above-average hitter over a large sample. He owns a .227/.313/.337 batting line in more than 1000 career plate appearances.
There’s no argument that Caballero hasn’t been the more productive player of late. Still, the 24-year-old Volpe entered the season as New York’s expected franchise shortstop. Caballero is soon to turn 29 and is established as a high-end utility player. The Yankees can still find playing time for him on most days. He’s a right-handed complement to Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ryan McMahon at second and third base, respectively. They’re tolerating Giancarlo Stanton in right field for as long as Aaron Judge is unable to throw at game speed, but they’ll frequently kick Caballero into the outfield later in games for defensive purposes.
lol
I wish someone loved me as unconditionally as Boone loves Volpe.
If this is Conforto’s burner account, your’re in luck bc Dave Roberts loves you more
Caballero is the better option. Get’er done.
He’s a 3rd year player who has to adjust to the adjustments made to him. The Yanks success isn’t teetering on Volpe’s or Well’s offense. They deserve more time to try and fight thru their issues but give other guys a shot when it makes sense.
Doesn’t it make sense now as team is fighting for a playoffs berth and they’re both not contributing?
Has the whole “day off to reset” thing ever worked.
A guy sucks and a day off – not even at home and still sitting on the bench – ever made an athlete all of a sudden great?
I can’t remember it, in any sport, but I hear it happening all the time.
I can see it if a guy is sore, hurting, or having some sort of emotional trauma but just because they are slumping or not very good in general? Never.
This is one example of why the Yankees will not win under Boone. He is simply not a good manager for this organization.
It goes deeper than boone
The minor league system and coaches are also to blame in addition to the analytical staff
I think the GM is to blame for many of the problems plaguing that franchise right now but unfortunately it’s Cashman’s job until he retires or decides to leave the organization. He’s basically part of the Steinbrenner family.
He can’t take a walk to save his life.
Volpe has minor league options. Just send him down to work on his game in Scranton. Doesn’t mean you are giving up on him. Doesn’t mean you are handing him the keys to the most important position on the field. You are making him earn his spot again. Just do it.
Normally, I’d say you’re spot-on; but with this organization, I don’t think it will matter.
It’s abundantly clear they don’t stress fundamentals at any stage of the minors, which is why the Yankees have so many issues when their prospects are promoted to MLB.
Cashman wants him in there everyday, no matter what. On the super rare days he doesn’t start, Boone is likely under mandate to get him in there late in the game. Cashman has long been desperate for his own Jeter.
That will be Lombard
They need to move volpe to second next season
Lombard will be worse of a hitter then Volpe.
Doesn’t he have Aaron Judge?
He really is a second baseman
The Horse getting some reps in, I like it!
The rest of baseball thanks you
He’s fragile. Very fragile.
Volpe did come into the Sunday night game in the 8th for defense and fielded cleanly his only chance.
Volpe is a disappointing prospect and at this point I’m not sure he counts as a prospect anymore. He basically is what he is. He has some raw power, but he can’t hit for average, he’s incredibly streaky and his defense is very hit or miss/up or down, etc. just like his hitting.
He is a deeply mediocre, very streaky player who has talent, but isn’t consistent.
He is what we are seeing him to be. Make of that what you will.
I love the Yankees. I have barely watched this season. Its not the worst Yankees season ever, but it’s been rough and Volpe is one of those elements that epitomizes what is so frustrating about the Yankees organization at this point.
We need more Aaron Judge/ Bernie Williams, etc. level prospects and fewer Volpes / Voits / etc.
In short- the Yankees are a broken clock on prospects- yeah, one or two basically pan out, but most are flash in the pans that aren’t worth anywhere near the hype and their careers are unremarkable at best.
Off-season trade spencer Jones for jacob wilson, who says no?
As they probably should