Latest Yankees lineup is proof Aaron Boone has lost all faith in Gold Glover

If you want to know how the Yankees feel about one particular player, all you need to do is look to the latest lineup.

The New York Yankees method for building the 2023 roster has not been exactly linear. If it were, we’d be seeing Aaron Boone, Josh Donaldson, and Isaiah Kiner-Falefa out there as key staple pieces of the team.

Instead, they have been bounced from the lineups repeatedly by newer, and in most cases, younger players.

Take for example, Isaiah Kiner-Falefa. He was removed as starting shortstop in favor of the exciting rookie Anthony Volpe after Spring Training. IKF has humbly looked for ways to stay involved, showing up as a utilityman at center field and third base. He has done fine in those defensive roles, despite his 1-for-15 showing at the plate.

But despite his humility in showing up in those spots, IKF wasn’t the go-to guy at shortstop when Volpe got his first big-league career rest day on Tuesday night. Instead, Boone opted to slot Oswaldo Cabrera, another utilityman on the defensive side, into the start.

Ouch.

Aaron Boone telegraphed Yankees faith in Isaiah Kiner-Falefa by not starting him at SS

On a night where the starting spot at IKF’s natural position was up for grabs, Boone certainly didn’t jump to slot him in there. IKF, who didn’t start, did enter the 11-2 win for the Yankees, but in center field later in the game.

And even when the Yankees were up big and Boone shuffled the infield around, Volpe got in the game as a reliever, not IKF.

Perhaps Boone is keeping expectations real with Kiner-Falefa, knowing there won’t be many SS opportunities for him, and trying to give him reps where they will keep him on-task. But clearly, the Yankees have no interest in playing IKF at his most natural position.