The Yankees have an infield situation brewing, and it’s not the kind that makes your lineup card easy to write. With Ryan McMahon and Trent Grisham back from injury, the natural question was whether Jose Caballero would slide into everyday shortstop duties and push Anthony Volpe into more of a utility role. Manager Aaron Boone addressed it Friday, and his answer was honest enough to leave room for interpretation.
“Yeah when we’re whole, he’ll (Caballero) play there,” Boone said, via Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. “Anthony will play there some, obviously. Still try and take advantage of (Caballero’s) versatility where we can. Even in this stretch, there’s been a couple of days that we’ve walked in and he’s been at shortstop, then something’s come up with a player, so we’ve had to juggle the lineup on the fly. But yeah.”
So here’s the deal. Caballero can handle shortstop just fine, and he’s also valuable at second base, third base, and even a little outfield if needed. Volpe, meanwhile, is not being benched or demoted. Boone is basically saying both guys will get time at the position, but Caballero is the primary option right now — at least until the roster is fully healthy for a sustained stretch.
What This Means for the Yankees Defense
Caballero has the edge defensively at short, with better range and a stronger arm. Volpe is more of a grinder at the plate but has been inconsistent in the field at times. The Yankees clearly value versatility, and Boone hinted that even on days they plan to start Caballero at short, something can come up — a tweak, a late scratch — and suddenly Volpe is back out there. It’s not exactly a platoon. It’s more of a fluid, game-to-game thing.
Fans online have been split. Some think Volpe needs consistent at-bats to develop, and bouncing him around doesn’t help. Others like the idea of a better glove at short for a team that’s trying to tighten up defensively down the stretch.
Rodon Hits the IL, Yankees Might Need Another Arm
In other Yankees news that actually might matter more right now, Carlos Rodon went on the injured list Friday with elbow inflammation. That’s never a good phrase for a pitcher with his injury history. The lefty has been up and down this season, but losing him for any stretch puts pressure on a rotation that already had question marks behind Gerrit Cole.
New York could be in the market for a starter before the trade deadline. The front office has been quiet about specific targets, but losing Rodon changes the math a little. They might have to get aggressive.
The Yankees open a three-game set at home against the Twins on Friday. They’ve scuffled lately, so getting a win and some clearer answers on the shortstop situation would help. But right now, Boone is playing it week by week.
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