The New York Yankees lost Aaron Judge to a ribs injury at the end of May, but they are tied for first place with the Tampa Bay Rays as of June 12. Their offense is making do without the superstar slugger and team captain. There is still plenty of room for improvement, however. Manager Aaron Boone continues to play homegrown talent Anthony Volpe at shortstop, which leaves utility man Jose Caballero to work the outfield more than many fans prefer.
Even former Yankees players believe a change is in order.
“I think you give Caballero the shot and you see what he can do,” two-time All-Star and 2015 Home Run Derby winner Todd Frazier said on the “Foul Territory” podcast. “He’s earned it, he deserves it. But again, when you get the answers from Boonie and you hear the questions that are asked, and it’s not a full-on straight ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or ‘this guy’s gonna play’ or ‘that guy’s gonna play’…. I think that’s one of the worrisome things. You’ve got to go with the guy who’s been playing better.”
Retired relief pitcher Adam Ottavino, who served two stints in The Bronx, is curious if a specific factor is influencing the organization’s decision-making process. “I wonder about the dynamic of being a guy that you drafted and developed and just falling in love with your own player… I feel like with the Yankees it’s only part of the story. At the end of the day, to Todd’s point, if you’re not getting the job done on a regular basis, every player is replaceable on the New York Yankees.”
"You've got to go with the guy who's been playing better."
Adam Ottavino and @FlavaFraz21 believe Jose Caballero should start at shortstop over Anthony Volpe.
Yankees fans, do you agree? pic.twitter.com/G2Pe03FT68
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) June 12, 2026
Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone and the Yanks as a whole have shown a great amount of faith in the struggling Volpe. The 2019 first-round draft pick and 2023 Gold Glove Award winner enjoyed a solid first two weeks back in New York after being recalled in May, but he is cratering in June.
Anthony Volpe is batting .194 with a .308 on-base percentage, .299 slugging percentage and .606 OPS in 78 plate appearances this season. Jose Caballero is slashing .258/.313/.390/.703 through 198 plate appearances. He notched two hits and two RBIs in Wednesday’s 8-4 win versus the Cleveland Guardians. Neither right-handed hitter is incredibly trustworthy on offense, so one would assume that defense serves as the tiebreaker.
Volpe has posted a +1 in defensive runs saved and outs above average, while Caballero boasts a +4 DRS and a -1 OAA at short, according to FanGraphs. Although both athletes are carrying a steady presence in the lineup amid Judge’s absence, the Yankees will eventually have to make a choice.
Will loyalty and potential win the day in a World Series-or-bust season? If so, Volpe will be under more pressure to produce than maybe ever before, and that is a frightening thought given how critical the fan base has already been.
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