BOSTON – With Anthony Volpe available off the bench Sunday night following a cortisone shot for his partially torn labrum, Aaron Boone was asked about his plans moving forward at shortstop.
But before a question could be completed, Boone interjected.
“I don’t know,” he said with José Caballero starting at shortstop for the fifth straight game.
Volpe was never expected to start against the Red Sox this weekend after getting his shot on Wednesday, but it was notable that Boone didn’t make any kind of commitment to who his shortstop will be going forward, as he’s been a staunch supporter of Volpe’s.
“Do what’s best every day,” Boone said, adding next to nothing else on the subject.
Previously, Boone and Brian Cashman have given Volpe votes of confidence throughout his struggles this season.
The 24-year-old has a .661 OPS and an 81 wRC+ overall, as well as a .454 OPS over his last 32 games and a .621 OPS since May 3, the day he dove for a ball and hurt his shoulder. Volpe’s 19 errors were third-most in the majors entering Sunday, and his -9 Outs Above Average ranked 22nd among 23 qualified shortstops.
Despite those poor numbers and a three-year career that has disappointed, especially at the plate, Cashman said that he still considers Volpe to be his shortstop beyond this season.
“I think he’s a good player. Obviously, this year notwithstanding, he’s got a lot of abilities that are positive,” the general manager said Friday.
“He’s had a tough stretch, but yeah, he’s someone that we can count on and we believe in. But acknowledging at the same time, this isn’t the season that we expected or he expected, but that doesn’t change our viewpoint of what he’s capable of. I think he’s a really talented guy, and I think he has a chance to be a positive impact on us.
“I think he’s still really capable of being a quality, above average, regular shortstop in the game, but it’s a hard game at the same time.”
Caballero, meanwhile, is leading the majors in stolen bases, grades out well defensively at short, and gets on base at a higher clip than Volpe. Because of Caballero’s versatility and speed, Boone has said there’s value in using him off the bench.
However, if Caballero continues to outperform Volpe, the Yankees can get value out of him in the starting lineup, too.
“Look, Anthony, I view as our shortstop,” Boone said earlier in the week. “But Caballero is a really good player. I’m aware of that, and feel a lot of confidence anytime I put him in there. Obviously, he’s gotten some more opportunities here of late where I have sat Anthony, and we’re at a time of the year where we’re obviously playing for a lot right now. So I look it as all hands on deck every day, and try and do what’s best for the team every day.”
