The Yankees keep running Anthony Volpe out there, but the noise around him is only getting louder. Derek Jeter’s recent comments on Adam Schein’s “The Schein Time” added another layer to the conversation, and Schein wasted no time turning that into a full-throated case against Volpe staying in the majors.
Jeter was careful to frame his view as one based on limited contact. “The Yankees are very high on Anthony,” Jeter said.
“I don't personally know him that well. We've had a couple of conversations.
I don't know him well, but yeah, I think they're banking on a big upside and hopefully he can put it together here. They can put it together soon.”
Schein took that and ran with it, saying his read was that Jeter does not think Volpe belongs in the big leagues. “A guy like that should not be in the major leagues. That's the interpretation of what Derek Jeter is telling me,” Schein said.
From there, Schein laid into Volpe’s game across the board, arguing that the shortstop isn’t helping in any phase - at the plate, in the field, or on the bases. The numbers he pointed to back up part of that frustration. Over the last four years, Volpe has hit just .224 with an OPS of .662, production that falls below league average for an everyday player.
Schein also tied the Yankees’ patience with Volpe to the front office, saying Brian Cashman’s draft investment is part of why the organization keeps standing behind him. Volpe was selected in the first round of the 2019 MLB draft, and Schein believes that history is driving the team’s thinking.
“Brian Cashman is trying to save face and rationalize taking Volpe as high as he did in the draft and saying dumb things in the past like, 'We'll let it play out on the field, and I believe in this guy,'” Schein added. “No.
Volpe is everything wrong with the New York Yankees, and that's a problem. So I think it's incumbent upon the Yankees to get rid of him so they can move on.”
Schein even mocked the idea that Jeter has no real connection to Volpe. “He has no relationship with him?
Hey Anthony, you wanna pick up the phone and call Derek Jeter? He’d return the call.
He'd text you back. That's one red flag.” @adamschein has many an issue with Anthony Volpe remaining the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees.
One of… pic.twitter.com/OwGZjj3Tw9
The trade chatter adds another wrinkle. The Atlanta Braves have been linked to the Yankees for some time, with the NL East club looking for both a starting pitcher and a shortstop. That creates a possible opening if New York decides to move Volpe.
One proposal floated by TJ French of Heavy would send Volpe to Atlanta in a deal for INF Jim Jarvis and RHP Garrett Baumann. With Jose Caballero showing he can be an upgrade at shortstop, the Yankees could also try to use any Volpe deal to bring back more draft or prospect value.
Volpe’s struggles at the plate only fuel the speculation. In 138 at-bats this season, he has hit .246 with one home run, six doubles, and an OPS+ of 89.
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