The New York Yankees are reportedly in the market for a new catcher and could find one by dumping Anthony Volpe.
Volpe has not panned out in New York and continues to struggle offensively. With top prospect George Lombard Jr. making a strong case to debut soon, Volpe's clock may be ticking. The Athletic's Chris Kirschner proposed this trade that would send Volpe to the Minnesota Twins:
- Yankees receive: Ryan Jeffers
- Twins receive: Anthony Volpe and Camilo Doval
"Ryan Jeffers is the most logical catching target for the Yankees because of his relationship with Tanner Swanson, the club’s director of catching. Swanson was a key figure in the Minnesota Twins’ decision to draft Jeffers in 2018," Kirschner wrote on Monday. "Jeffers will be a free agent after this season, so this move would also give the Yankees a stretch run to determine if he could also be a longer-term fit. In return, the Twins would get two change-of-scenery candidates in Volpe and Doval."
MLB insider Jim Bowden weighed in on the trade and felt that this would be a deal that both sides would accept.
"Volpe, 25, needs a change of scenery, and with more than two years of remaining club control, it’s a risk worth taking for the Twins, especially considering Jeffers is an impending free agent," wrote Bowden. "From the Yankees’ standpoint, Lombard is ready for a promotion to replace Volpe, and they would still have José Caballero as an option at shortstop."
This deal could knock out two birds with one stone for the Yankees. It would open the door for Lombard and finally get rid of Volpe, while also drastically improving at catcher.