Boone Sticks With Anthony Volpe as Yankees Weigh Shortstop Alternatives

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone kept Anthony Volpe in the starting lineup Tuesday night, despite acknowledging he had considered starting José Caballero as Volpe's struggles continued to draw scrutiny in his third major league season.

Assuming good health, the Yankees' lineup has several daily fixtures — Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, Giancarlo Stanton, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ben Rice among them — and Volpe has been treated as a virtual given at shortstop for most of the season. Tuesday marked the 137th time in 144 games that Volpe started at the position.

Boone said he has monitored Volpe's performance closely and weighed alternatives, but elected to keep him in the everyday shortstop role for the matchup. The manager's comments suggested the team is open to lineup adjustments if performance or health concerns dictate a change.

Volpe entered the season as the Yankees' projected long-term shortstop and has received consistent playing time since his arrival. This season, however, the team and its fans have noted a downturn in both offensive production and defensive consistency, prompting public and internal conversations about how to respond. José Caballero, a utility infielder on the roster, was mentioned by Boone as a candidate for a start as the club evaluates options.

The decision to start Volpe reflected a familiar managerial balance: weigh a player's established role and potential against current form and the team's immediate needs. Boone's approach has been to consider matchups, recent performance and player health when setting the lineup.

The Yankees face a stretch of games that could further clarify how the shortstop position will be handled down the stretch. Volpe's continued presence in the lineup gives him an opportunity to address recent shortcomings, while Caballero and other infield options remain available should the club pivot.

Front-office officials and coaching staff have emphasized maintaining stability while also preserving roster flexibility. Any future changes will likely be driven by measurable performance trends and medical considerations, according to Boone's remarks and the club's pattern of rotating options when necessary.

As the regular season progresses, the Yankees' handling of the shortstop spot will be watched closely, both for its immediate impact on the lineup and for what it signals about the club's longer-term plans. For now, Boone has placed his faith in Volpe to respond, even as the manager acknowledges the situation remains under active review.