Suddenly, the New York Yankees are rolling into September with huge momentum. They are winning games, and their victory over the Blue Jays was great for them. But even after that, there is one storyline that remains unchanged—Anthony Volpe and his struggles. Despite the winning streak, the infielder has been putting out bad numbers. And this is not new; it’s been the same all year long.

Volpe is hitting just .207 with 19 errors! Instead of stabilizing the game late in the season, he has continued to stumble at the plate and in the field. But time and again, he got chances. Second chances, fourth chances, and even now. Throughout most of the year, manager Aaron Boone has gone out of his way to defend his shortstop. But his recent comments suggest that he might be putting Volpe in an even tougher spot. He is keeping him in the fire all the while praising his replacement—Jose Caballero.

Aaron Boone at Foul Territory said, “Caballero has come over. Love the flexibility Caballero gives…. Love what I am seeing for him… He will probably get a start in this series.” When asked if he really wants to try out Caballero, Boone said, “I’m confident that Caballero can handle any situation, so I don’t need to see it. Okay. He’s a good player, and I have confidence in him, and if I have to do something like that, I don’t need to try it out.” 

That sounds like a belief for Caballero, for sure. But for Volpe, it feels like he is getting thrown under the bus. Boone, after all, also added, “Still hoping Anthony’s best is in front of him.” And as far as the boos that have been rained on Volpe, Boone mentioned, “Yeah. Well, it’s part of it, and I do feel like he’s equipped to handle it, and, um, you know, trust he can get through this, too.” 

Boone, though, is saying that Caballero is ready to take the big moments without extra trials. And that Volpe needs to keep grinding through it now. Fans already saw this movie play before with Gary Sanchez, who was benched for Kyle Higashioka in the 2021 postseason. Isn’t it? For now, rumors have it that the Yankees might just bench Volpe come October. This is what Joel Sherman predicted, too. But given that Boone trusts Volpe to handle the pressure, one never knows. Recently, even Derek Jeter threw a truth bomb at him! 

But the risk is obvious; without giving Volpe a breather and leaning on the “he will handle it” narrative, Boone could be setting up his shortstop for failure. And well, Volpe might be benched; there is another whose future with the Yankees looks dodgy.

Luke Weaver’s future with the Yankees is in doubt?

The New York Yankees had made a huge splash at the trade deadline by getting in three controllable relievers—Camilo Doval, Jake Bird, and David Bednar. That is indeed great for the bullpen’s long-term stability. But then, this might spell trouble for Luke Weaver, who has turned into New York’s most reliable arm. He hits free agency this winter and has been so great that he may have priced himself out of the Bronx.

FanSided’s Chris Landers put it bluntly: “The problem is that he’s been so good he might have priced himself out of what the Yankees are willing to pay to keep him.” That’s the double-edged sword of his breakout. The New York Yankees helped Luke Weaver reinvent himself from a failed starter into the reliever he is. But now, after dominating, he might be ready to cash in. But can you blame him?

This season, Weaver has a 2.81 ERA across 55 games, following up a 2.90 ERA in 120 appearances since he joined New York. Last postseason, he was even better and put up a 1.76 ERA in 12 games. Versatility has been his thing, and he has shifted well between closer, setup man, and multiple-inning stopper. Now, of course, the Yankees won’t be left empty-handed if Weaver leaves. Bednar has closing experience, and Doval sure has struggled so far in pinstripes, but the All-Star pedigree is hard to ignore. But even then, Weaver’s leaving would pinch for sure.