Yankees Expected to Bench Volpe for Caballero in Playoffs

The New York Yankees face a critical decision at shortstop heading into the playoffs, with Anthony Volpe's struggling 2025 season putting his postseason role in jeopardy. Volpe, once a defensive standout and a Gold Glove winner, has seen a significant decline in defense, ranking in the fourth percentile among shortstops, and is hitting just .207 with a low OPS+. New York Post writer Joel Sherman predicts that José Caballero, acquired at the trade deadline, will replace Volpe as the starting shortstop for the postseason due to his better defensive metrics and slightly improved offensive output. Although Caballero's career offensive numbers are modest, his recent performance and defensive reliability have given manager Aaron Boone reason to consider him over Volpe. However, Volpe's past postseason experience and ability to perform under pressure may still be factors in Boone's decision. This potential lineup change reflects broader concerns within the Yankees organization as they prepare for a tight playoff race against the Boston Red Sox.