Yankees’ shortstop benching needs to be permanent

The New York Yankees have officially decided to pull the plug on Anthony Volpe’s shortstop role, handing the reins to Jose Caballero.

This move felt inevitable after months of Volpe’s struggles on both sides of the ball, frustrating fans and scouts alike.

Volpe’s steady decline reaches breaking point

Volpe is enduring his worst season as a professional, producing well below league average while making costly defensive mistakes.

The 24-year-old is hitting .206/.268/.393 with 19 home runs, 70 RBIs, and a disappointing 81 wRC+, showing glaring regression.

Defensively, the issues have been just as concerning, with 19 errors, -8 outs above average, and a -6 fielding run value.

For a player once projected as a franchise cornerstone, Volpe’s inconsistency has been like quicksand, dragging the Yankees down nightly.

Manager Aaron Boone has defended him repeatedly, but the results kept piling up against Volpe with little improvement in sight.

In Caballero, the Yankees get a steady glove at shortstop, someone capable of bringing balance back to the infield.

Across his career, Caballero has been reliable, with clean mechanics, quick reactions, and the ability to limit defensive miscues.

While his bat doesn’t boast the same home run potential, his overall profile offers the Yankees something desperately needed: stability.

He’s hitting .227/.330/.327 this season, giving him a far better on-base presence compared to Volpe’s erratic offensive approach.

Caballero doesn’t need to hit balls into the seats to make an impact — his legs are his biggest offensive weapon.

This season, he’s swiped 43 bases and shows no signs of slowing down as September rolls into view.

With his aggressiveness on the basepaths, he puts immediate pressure on pitchers and creates scoring opportunities from thin air.

The Yankees have lacked that dynamic spark, and Caballero’s speed gives them a new wrinkle to stress opposing defenses.

This isn’t the time for hesitation — the Yankees can’t afford to waffle between Volpe and Caballero down the stretch.

Volpe’s struggles have been glaring enough to demand a permanent change, no matter how much Boone hopes for a turnaround.

Caballero might not be a star, but his combination of defense, contact, and speed is exactly what this roster requires.

Sometimes, the safer play is the smarter one, and right now Caballero offers a higher floor in every meaningful category.

The Yankees’ playoff push will depend heavily on cutting down costly mistakes, both in the field and at the plate.

Making the switch to Caballero signals a shift toward pragmatism, prioritizing performance over potential as the season winds down.

Volpe may still have a future in pinstripes, but for now, Caballero’s presence is the upgrade the Yankees desperately needed.