A nthony Volpe played like a superstar in the New York Yankees‘ run to the World Series a year ago.
But if MLB insider Joel Sherman is correct, Volpe may not even see the field for the 2025 playoffs.
The longtime New York Post baseball writer predicted Volpe would cede his spot as the Yankees starting shortstop to Jose Caballero when their inevitable march toward their 28th World Series title starts next month.
Volpe has been one of the worst shortstops in baseball this year, slashing .207/.269/.396 with 19 homers and 70 RBIs while also committing the most errors among American League shortstops this season.
Unfortunately for Yankees fans, his struggles come on the heels of his spectacular October in 2025. Volpe had an .815 OPS in 59 postseason plate appearances in 2024, including a grand slam in Game 4 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Will Anthony Volpe Be Replaced As Yankees Shortstop?
Yankees manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman have stuck by Volpe through his season-long struggles.
Yet, Sherman predicts that patience to run out when the added pressure of October sets in, especially with a smooth-fielding option like Caballero, who Sherman feels is more natural rather than the herky-jerky Volpe at short.
“Caballero has played three or four games at shortstop, and when you watch him you’re like ‘oh right, that’s the natural movements of a shortstop. That’s the easy arm,” Sherman said on the “Pinstripe Post” podcast. “Watching Anthony Volpe is like watching the Tasmanian devil play shortstop. It’s hectic.
“He’s not a comfortable player right now.”
Sherman cited two recent examples of players the Yankees stuck with before making a position switch in the playoffs, catcher Gary Sanchez and previous shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who the team backed then replaced when the postseason started.
“In 2020, they played seven playoff games, and Kyle Higashioka started five,” Sherman said, before noting about Kiner-Falefa in 2022 when the Yankees “got to the playoffs, and he didn’t start every game.”
What Problems Could Come If Jose Caballero Starts At Shortstop For The Yankees?
The Yankees acquired Caballero from the Tampa Bay Rays at the trade deadline mainly for his speed, since he still leads the majors in stolen bases (43).
Yet, Sherman noted there are warts to Caballero’s game. He seems unlikely to keep up his .765 OPS, since he has a below-average career OPS of .647.
“Is he a great offensive player? He is not,” Sherman said. “But this version of him is so much better than Volpe and especially what Volpe used to do well, which is steal some bases, is no longer part of his thing.”
Sherman also noted he has been twice ejected — once in extra innings while arguing a play at second base in Tampa and while arguing balls and strikes last week in Houston.
“You’re a part-time player, you’re starting today for a very specific reason,” Sherman said. “Lefty on the mound probably, we’re going to start you here and then move you to right field because we don’t want [Giancarlo] Stanton or [Aaron] Judge in right field today, and you’ve allowed yourself to get thrown out of two games.”
Sherman further noted some of Caballero’s red flags, mainly that the Rays initially took a flier on him in a low-stakes trade with the Seattle Mariners.
“Here’s a guy who isn’t even arbitration eligible until this off-season, and he’s been traded twice, and he’s very talented,” Sherman said. “Why have two organizations given up on him? You start to see a little bit with those two ejections.”
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