Yankees Consider Giving Shortstop a Breather Amid Ongoing Slump

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The New York Yankees are running out of excuses for Anthony Volpe. The second-year shortstop continues to stumble in the field and at the plate, and even manager Aaron Boone now admits he has considered pulling him from the lineup to give him a breather.

Before Saturday’s 12-1 embarrassment at Yankee Stadium against the rival Red Sox, Boone revealed he’s thought about giving Volpe some rest, especially with newly acquired José Caballero available as an option at shortstop. “Especially with Caballero, I gave him one the other day,” Boone said, according to the New York Post. “Those can be in play here, but I wasn’t going to do it with a lefty today.”

Volpe then went out and proved his manager right.

Mistakes in the Field and at the Plate

The Yankees’ latest defeat included another error from Volpe, his 17th of the season, an air-mailed throw in the ninth inning that contributed to a seven-run Red Sox rally. Boone downplayed the miscue, noting it was his first in a few weeks, but Volpe is now just one shy of matching his career high from 2023. The mistakes extend beyond routine grounders.

On Friday night, with New York trailing 1-0 in the ninth, Volpe made a questionable choice by throwing behind Jarren Duran at second base instead of taking the sure out at first. The gamble failed, keeping the inning alive and fueling Boston’s momentum.

Boone initially tried to defend him, calling it a “heady play,” but also conceded it was “obviously not the right play.” That type of decision-making has raised alarms, especially in a rivalry series where every mistake is magnified.

The defensive lapses are only part of the problem. Volpe has gone just 1-for-28 at the plate and is batting .169 in August, dragging his season average down to .208 with a .675 OPS. Saturday’s showing offered no reprieve—instead of swinging away with one out and runners on in the fourth inning, Volpe opted for a sacrifice bunt while trailing 3-0. That play, as much as the errors in the field, illustrated how far his confidence has fallen. Yankee Stadium fans voiced their displeasure loudly, booing their once-celebrated shortstop.

Boone’s Dilemma Going Forward

Boone kept Volpe in the lineup against Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet, reasoning that he wanted the right-handed bat in there. Yet after another lifeless outing, the manager admitted he may need to intervene. “Those [days off] can be in play here,” Boone said. “We’ll see.”

The Yankees’ front office made sure Boone had more flexibility at the deadline by acquiring Caballero, who can play shortstop without sacrificing much defensively. That insurance policy now looms large as Volpe continues to spiral.

Boone has shown loyalty to his young shortstop, hoping he can fight through the slump. But with errors mounting, questionable decisions in key spots, and an offense that has cratered, the calls for a reset are getting louder.

For a team that has been swept aside by its rival eight straight times and is hearing boos at home, a breather for Volpe might be less about punishment and more about survival. Boone knows it, the fans know it, and soon, Volpe may have no choice but to sit and regroup.

Alvin Garcia Born in Puerto Rico, Alvin Garcia is a sports writer for Heavy.com who focuses on MLB. His work has appeared on FanSided, LWOS, NewsBreak, Athlon Sports, and Yardbarker, covering mostly MLB. More about Alvin Garcia