Yankees Pushed to Pull Trigger on Anthony Volpe for 29-Year-Old Teammate After Aaron Boone’s Blunder Branded “Inexcusable”

It started with the kind of groan Yankees fans know all too well. They echoed a season’s worth of frustration, shaky bullpen calls, wasted opportunities, and a young shortstop who looks more lost by the day. When Aaron Boone summoned Devin Williams in a game where the entire bullpen was rested, fans already feared disaster. Minutes later, they watched it unfold: runs pouring in, Boone ejected mid-change, and another night where Boone’s decisions felt like self-inflicted wounds.

The unfolding events have sparked a call for change. All eyes are now on Anthony Volpe’s performance on the field. Once seen as the promising future for the Yankees’ shortstop position, Volpe is now struggling with a rough patch and costly mistakes in the field. Stepping into this situation is José Caballero. A 29-year newcomer has displayed glimpses of speed along with solid contact and determination in his play. For many fans and analysts, Caballero represents the spark Boone refuses to embrace.

WFAN’s Chris McMonigle summed up the mood bluntly: “Anthony Volpe is borderline useless right now… I’m open to playing Caballero at shortstop. At least give it a try for a couple games.”

It’s a sentiment hard to ignore when the numbers back it up. Volpe has spiraled into a 1-for-32 drought, his defense has cratered, and advanced metrics put him among the weakest everyday shortstops in baseball. Boone’s loyalty, once admirable, now looks reckless. Just as he miscalculated with Williams, who has allowed multiple runs in ten different outings this season, Boone’s refusal to bench Volpe feels like another blind gamble.

Caballero doesn’t have the pedigree of a first-round pick or the shine of a franchise cornerstone, but what he does offer is tangible production. “Caballero brings a little something. He puts the ball in play, brings speed, when he gets on the bases, he steals bases, he creates pressure on the defense,” said McMonigle. That style has been missing from a Yankees lineup too often, waiting on a home run that never comes.

Fans wanted to believe Boone would learn from his mistakes. Instead, they see a manager repeating them in the bullpen, in the lineup, and in the standings. If the Yankees continue to protect Volpe while ignoring Caballero, they risk sabotaging themselves in the heat of a playoff chase.

In New York, patience is a luxury Boone no longer has. The next move at shortstop may decide whether this season turns around or unravels completely.

Anthony Volpe’s costly errors and slumping bat for the Yankees

Anthony Volpe’s defense has turned into a season-long headache for the Yankees. The 24-year-old has already committed 18 errors, putting him second in all of baseball behind Elly De La Cruz. These aren’t harmless miscues either. On July 13 against the Blue Jays, Volpe booted a routine grounder in the seventh inning that opened the door to a three-run rally. One week later, in Boston’s game against the Red Sox, he made a throw past the base, resulting in the Red Sox scoring a free run. This mistake ultimately contributed to the Yankees’ loss by just one point and highlighted New York’s need for perfection in a closely contested division battle.

At the plate, things aren’t much prettier. In 132 games, Volpe is slashing just .207/.271/.397, the worst line of his three-year career. He’s struck out 118 times and too often looks overmatched in key spots. Yes, his 19 home runs give him some pop, but the inconsistency has worn thin. Yankee Stadium crowds have grown restless. For a team chasing October baseball, patience is running out.

Fans see the contrast every time they watch a shortstop like Bo Bichette. The Blue Jays star is hitting .307/.352/.477 and has limited his miscues to 12 errors despite carrying a heavier defensive load. He doesn’t just make the routine plays; he makes the difficult ones look easy, something Volpe has yet to master. With Bichette possibly hitting the open market this winter, and a price tag hovering around $128 million, the Yankees suddenly look like the perfect suitor. For a franchise built on big swings, the question isn’t whether Bichette is an upgrade, but whether New York can afford not to make a move.