Yankees Bench Volpe as Playoff Push Intensifies After Red Sox Series

New York, NY — The New York Yankees are down to their final five series of the regular season after securing two wins against the Boston Red Sox. As the playoffs loom, the Yankees have made a significant change in their lineup, benching shortstop Anthony Volpe.

Yankees Manager Aaron Boone announced that Volpe’s starting position will now be filled by recent trade addition Jose Caballero. This shift comes after Volpe struggled both defensively and offensively throughout the season. Boone revealed that Volpe has also been dealing with a shoulder injury but emphasized that his decision is based on which player offers the best chance of winning.

“(Caballero) is playing really well and does a lot of really good things,” Boone stated. “We’re at that time of year where I’m going to do what I think is best for us each and every day.”

With Caballero taking the lead role, discussions about Volpe’s future with the Yankees are heating up. Major League Baseball analyst Jim Riley suggested that the Yankees might consider trading Volpe, who he labeled as a player that may not return next season. “It just seems he’s regressing with the bat, so a change of scenery might be what’s needed here,” said Riley in a recent BALLCAP Sports video.

Riley mentioned several teams, including the San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, and Cleveland Guardians, as potential trade partners for Volpe. However, trading him now, when his value is low, might not be in the Yankees’ best interest.

Volpe has three years of arbitration eligibility left, which means the Yankees could choose to keep him around in hopes of rebuilding his value in a different role for next year. If they can do so, they might draw a better return on a trade later.