Aaron Boone outlines expectations for Gerrit Cole's return, potential lineup shakeup, and rehab updates for star sluggers
Aaron Boone talks Gerrit Cole's return, the Anthony Volpe/Jose Caballero dilemma at shortstop, providing rest for Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge, demoting Spencer Jones, and the ongoing injury rehab for Jasson Dominguez and Giancarlo Stanton in Friday's pregame news conference.
Ahead of Friday night's series opener against the AL East division leading Tampa Bay Rays, Yankees manager Aaron Boone fielded questions from the press on a variety of hot topics: On Gerrit Cole , who will return to the mound for tonight's game against the Tampa Bay Rays for the first time in 569 days: "We're all realy excited to get our ace back... he's ready to perform at a high level... get outs at a high rate.
" On the return of Jose Caballero to the starting lineup tonight: "Excited to get [Caballero] back in there at shortstop today to hopefully provide that spark. " On his strategy having both surging shortstops - the aforementioned Caballero and the recently returned Anthony Volpe - at his disposal moving forward: "I've talked to both guys... both guys are going to play...
[Caballero's] versatility comes into play. " "These things have a way of working themselves out. We have two players that we feel can play vital roles in us winning games.
" However, Boone did acknowledge "it's not going to be the perfect scenario every single day. " "On the days [Volpe] is not playing, I'll have him working a little bit at second base... he has played some second base in the past, at Spring Training.