November 10, 2024
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For this week's Readers' Thread, please respond to the following:
Are you concerned that Anthony Volpe will not be a productive Major League hitter?
Enjoy!
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Regarding what I said below and I know it's a huge "if" -- but if Peraza can get it together, the Yankees could play Chisholm at 3B and maybe shift Volpe to his more natural future position -- 2B. Andy suggested in last week's mailbag, that the Yanks should sign none other than....Willy Adames. Great bat, great fit but a far worse SS than Volpe is.
I've never been very high on Peraza as I've said from day that he's likely a utility player at best. I even went so far as to suggest that based on his arm and his speed, the Yankees should add center field to his bag of tricks but that hasn't happened and I think…
I spoke with a few MLB scouts this past season, at different junctures, their opinions ranged from "give Volpe time" to "he's better suited to play 2B" and we heard this as he was coming up. When Cashman included Josh Smith in the Joey Gallo trade, I was pretty bummed out --- but it didn't seem to bother anyone here on SSTN at the time (other than me). It took him a few years, but look at what Smith did at 3b this season for the Rangers. He showed he can play 3b and play the position well.
Cashman also traded Trey Sweeney away as well - giving him to the Dodgers for Jorbit Vivas, so organizationally, the Yankees have…
Concerned is not the word I would use. He played well in his first taste of the playoffs (gotta love that grand slam and the toughness he showed in the middle of the diamond!), which shows me something. Yes, like any other 22/23 year old he needs to progress more for sure, but I am not throwing in the towel on him yet or concerned.
Baseball s a hard sport to play, he has all the tolls and the mental toughness. He is a team oriented, humble guy. If he hits .220 in 2025, then we can talk. But, I doubt that will happen.
Volpe's bat over the last 2 seasons is just another reason why GM Brian Cashman, with his stubbornness and refusal to incorporate more real baseball into the coaching, has to go.
National announcers see it and even talk about it. Fans see it. But why the Yankees front office refuses to do the basics and get him to be a better offensive player at the plate, is beyond my comprehension outside of my statement about Cashman above.
Volpe, in his two seasons, has been worth 3+WAR in each.
he has been a good defender at shortstop and, despite modest batting averages and OBP, has provided positive offensive numbers.
I expect that his offense will improve, but whether it does of not, Volpe has been pulling his weight.
he has been paid $1.5M in salary for his two seasons and provided $50M in value
it's well worth the Yankees' while to retain him and find out if his BA & OBP will pick up.
but it's probably a heckuva lot more important to worry about whether Soto will learn to be a competent defender in the outfield, someone capable of playing adequately in left field so that Judge…