How the Yankees can keep Glaber Torres and still start Anthony Volpe

The Yankees have already experienced spring; Anthony Volpe has been the main frontrunner so far. The Phenomenon turned heads with his stellar play in spring training, and it looks like he might make the Opening Day roster. On The Michael Kay Show, Kay stated that Volpe would likely make the list. Not only that, but assuming it worked, it would start too.

Torres should fit into the Yankees lineup in any way possible:

Throughout the off-season there have been dummy deals that put one together for Gleyber Torres, however I think he and Volpe could still feature in the squad together. Adding Volpe to the major league roster will certainly add spark, and show that the Yankees are fully committed to youth action. However, if he were to make the cut, it wouldn’t do him much good just by sitting on the bench.

Having Volpe and Torres in the lineup would be the best-case scenario for the Yanks. Gleyber remains one of the best second basemen in baseball, and his batter continues to play for that team. He’s definitely one of the four or five best players in this squad, and I don’t see any reason to look forward to taking him out of the squad just so Volpe can play every day. One potential possibility is to put Torres up in DH, so Stanton could see some court time, which he says he’d prefer anyway.

Now I’m not suggesting the Yankees play Torres as DH entirely, because that would be very counterproductive. However, if they wanted to give Volpe as many opportunities to play as possible, having Gleyber at DH would allow them to do so. Now, this isn’t a bummer on Gleyber’s defensive capabilities. If anything, he earned more respect for his defense last season than in any single year. He’s saved 9 runs defensed, which was good for fourth among all second basemen in baseball. He’s landed the day-to-day role, but some fans still want him gone.

Gleyber is an integral part of this team, and keeping him around is sure to do more good than bad. He posted 115 wRC+ last season, hit 24 HR, and would have finished the year with fan embrace and love if not for a dismal August. He’s still only 26 years old, and the Yankees have to do everything they can to fit him in the lineup on a daily basis. Playing a game of volpe every day is a must, but that shouldn’t come at the expense of Gleyber Torres.

Gleiber and Volp can split time at second base:

Volpe can handle 2B duties and he and Gleyber can alternate their days on the field. Plus, it helps that Volpe can play SS as well, meaning he sees more playing time when Torres is second. He’s too good a player to be kept on the bench, and if the Yankees want to transfer Gleyber, they should only do so for an impact player in return. It makes no sense to move it around for prospects or move it just to move it around. He is an outstanding player who continues to improve on the defensive side of things, with a proven bat for years now.

Volpi should make the Opening Day menu. I have no doubt he can handle the major league lifestyle. This spring, we just got a taste of how he sees MLB stadiums, and he shows nothing but excellence. Sure, there might be some tweaking as he tries to make sense of things, but that’s just the way baseball works. Not only may he go in right away and hit . 300, but he can certainly do so over time. He’s a top prospect for a reason, and the Yankees have chosen to stick with him rather than pursue a big name in free agency.

Anthony Volpe is the future of this organization and he’s already got Jeter comp in terms of his role and status with the team. He’s still incredibly young and will help bring that fire into the lineup, whether he’s leading or finishing ninth. He’s a great all-rounder with intelligence, great defense and a bat that only gets better as the year goes on. Having him and Jleiber in the squad would do wonders for this team.

Plus, Peraza has been terrific in the spring this spring, and splitting the occasional Volpe days with him could keep him fresh all season long. It’s always a small adjustment when there are many rookies in a squad, but Volpe really does look like a veteran. He and Jason Dominguez were absolutely impressed at camp, and it was a joy to watch them continue to develop and show off their skills. The future is now, and Volpe is helping usher in that new wave of talent for Americans.