TAMPA – On Sunday, José Caballero once again found himself addressing the topic everyone is talking about, and it’s bound to come up again in the future.
The topic in question is Anthony Volpe, who recently underwent shoulder surgery in October. Despite his offensive struggles and defensive decline over the past three years, Volpe, now 24, has maintained a strong hold on the Yankees’ shortstop position. Last season, he played despite having a torn labrum, which contributed to his difficulties. However, his recent surgery will sideline him at the start of the 2026 season.
Caballero, known for his speed and versatility during his stints with the Mariners, Rays, and Yankees, is expected to step in as the shortstop until Volpe is ready to return, possibly in April. The real question is whether Caballero, last year’s stolen base leader, can make a strong enough impact to challenge Volpe for the starting position.
“That’s out of my control,” Caballero commented on Sunday after launching a solo home run in the Yankees’ spring training game against the Mets. “I focus on what I can control. I’m going to give it my all every day, and the decision is up to them.”
He further stated, “I have nothing more to say about that.”
Caballero aims to make his mark on the field, with hopes that his performance will speak volumes.
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) February 22, 2026
Caballero, who wouldn’t hurt his case with some more pop, hopes to let his play do the talking instead.
That strategy worked out well last season after the Yankees acquired the 29-year-old from Tampa Bay, as Caballero posted a 134 wRC+ and an .828 OPS to go along with three homers and 15 stolen bases over 40 games for the Bombers. That limited sample size saw him earn more starts at shortstop in September as Volpe struggled and recovered from a cortisone shot.
But the Yankees handed the position back to Volpe by season’s end, and the former first-round pick started each of their postseason games. Even though Caballero, a well-graded defender at short, outperformed Volpe, it wasn’t all that surprising given the way the Yankees have talked about the two players.
Volpe, for one, has been staunchly supported by Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman throughout his struggles. The Yankees have been consistent in saying that, in Cashman’s words, he will be “part of the solution.”
And while Boone and Cashman did ever-so-slightly soften their commitment to Volpe being locked in at shortstop following his surgery, the manager has also repeatedly said that Caballero offers unique value in a reserve role.
Boone did so again Sunday, noting that Caballero “brings a lot of things to the table” that the Yankees “want to have in a bench player late in the game.”
“He’s just so good at so many different positions. There’s some fast-twitch in there,” Boone added when asked what Caballero brought to the team last year. “He’s so dynamic on the basepaths. He plays the game with a ton of confidence. Sometimes I gotta try and rein his confidence in a little bit, but it’s a gift that he’s got. Like when he’s out there, he thinks he’s the best player on the field. You need to have that to be a good big league player.”
Based on past comments, it’s entirely possible that Caballero remains an understudy to Volpe, who has been fielding and recently began his hitting program, even if the former plays well during the latter’s absence. But as Caballero said, that’s not something he’s going to worry about right now.
“I’m just trying to be out there, trying to help the team and trying to do my best every day,” he said.
That effort includes getting reacquainted with his double-play partner, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr.
The two reunited on the Yankees last summer after first getting to know each other in the Diamondbacks’ farm system. While Boone didn’t want to overstate the impact that that familiarity could have on the infielders, Caballero and Chisholm believe it helps, especially since they’re both leaving camp soon to play for Panama and Great Britain, respectively, in the World Baseball Classic.
“We’re kind of used to each other from our Arizona days when we used to practice with each other. So it was easier to get into feeling that comfort and that rhythm of playing together again,” Chisholm said Sunday. “We’re just having fun and enjoying every second of it.”
Added Caballero: “It’s a really good combination. Power, speed and dynamic in the middle. I think it’s a great fit for the team.”
Caballero went on to say that his and Chisholm’s understanding of each other makes it easier to communicate. The two did so on Saturday, as the self-assured Chisholm — preparing for a pivotal season of his own ahead of free agency — said that he and Caballero had a “brother to brother talk” about playing on New York’s big stage.
The key takeaway: both feel ready for the challenges in front of them.
“A lot of guys get to the big leagues or get to New York,” Chisholm said, “and try to play a different game and not be themselves. And that’s the best thing about him: He comes out there and he is himself. He’s not afraid to be himself, and that’s what I feel like helps him with his overall game.”
