Anthony Volpe

[Cory Engelhardt]

JUST starting a topic to get thoughts on him as a potential target. I don't know if the Twins would love him or even want him as a target, but with all the chatter of the Yankees targeting Jeffers, Ryan and even Larnach now, I'm curious what people would think of Volpe as a change of scenery type. My thoughts;

1) I do think he would improve the infield defense. 

2) I don't know if his bat will play

3) I don't know for sure that Culpepper's best defensive home is SS, but if/when Culpepper is ready this year, him coming up and having Volpe and Culpepper at SS and 2B certainly would improve the infield defense.

4) I don't know what that would mean for Clemens at 2B as often, IF Culpepper can hold down 2b.

5) I don't think they are ready for Marek Houston to be up this year and play SS,

 

Anyway, this post isn't me advocating to trade Jeffers necessarily in a move for Volpe. That said, if they do trade Jeffers, and they are getting Volpe back, I'd want a pitcher coming with Volpe.

 

Thoughts? Would you like this? Hate this? Just open for discussion.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

He is an option.   Trading Jeffers for an MLB SS for the playoff run - from a position of strength for a position of weakness is smart.    

I would prefer we would go pitching.  I know we will have some pitchers getting healthy, but the pitching at the upper levels of the minor leagues is depleted.  We have a handful of players you can consider and thats it.   

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 minute ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

He is an option.   Trading Jeffers for an MLB SS for the playoff run - from a position of strength for a position of weakness is smart.    

I would prefer we would go pitching.  I know we will have some pitchers getting healthy, but the pitching at the upper levels of the minor leagues is depleted.  We have a handful of players you can consider and thats it.   

How about if it is Volpe and a mlb arm in the same deal? Would that pique your interest in a Jeffers trade? Not that I want to trade Jeffers necessarily. Frankly, I trust his bat in our lineup over everyone else.

But maybe if it is Larnach and a low level prospect to the Yankees for Volpe and say one of their relievers?

[Mike Sixel]

Zero interest in getting a bad SS back for Jeffers. Give me a AA or AAA pitcher (throw in Hill or Soto to make it a better one back).

[Cory Engelhardt]

4 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Zero interest in getting a bad SS back for Jeffers. Give me a AA or AAA pitcher (throw in Hill or Soto to make it a better one back).

He isn't a bad defensive SS though. But I do think the premise of this conversation would be, IF they are trading Jeffers, I'd focus on something like Volpe AND Elmer Rodriguez OR Volpe AND someone like Camilo Doval or Fernanco Cruz.

IF that was the scenario, would that interest you? And maybe if it is Elmer Rodriguez we add a pitching prospect in the lower minors. Just saying, this as a framework would be interesting to me.

[Mike Sixel]

Sure, I'd gladly do Jeffers, Hill or Soto, and ERod for Volpe and Elmer (but I think that's light for MN). 

[Cory Engelhardt]

8 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Sure, I'd gladly do Jeffers, Hill or Soto, and ERod for Volpe and Elmer (but I think that's light for MN). 

I don't think ERod would go in that deal. That's too much going out.

Erod I would imagine could get a starter back from another team.

[Mike Sixel]

12 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I don't think ERod would go in that deal. That's too much going out.

Erod I would imagine could get a starter back from another team.

?

Elmer is a top 100 prospect, and Volpe a former starting SS. You think you can get Elmer (# 55 overall on FG) and Volpe for Jeffers and a HS pitcher that is either hurt or can't throw a strike (both in A ball?).  Or are you throwing in a just a guy prospect from MN?

[lecroy24fan]

Volpe isn't fixable. He's a bad defensive SS, despite what you say. I've watched a lot of Yankees games and he makes Tristan Gray look like a gold glover. He should have at least 10 more errors this year alone but hometown scoring. At the plate he's a chaser, worse than Lewis was last year.

[Cory Engelhardt]

9 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

?

Elmer is a top 100 prospect, and Volpe a former starting SS. You think you can get Elmer (# 55 overall on FG) and Volpe for Jeffers and a HS pitcher that is either hurt or can't throw a strike (both in A ball?).  Or are you throwing in a just a guy prospect from MN?

Elmer is aiming high, but I do think Jeffers has a ton of value that the Yankees want. That’s mostly what I am saying. 
I also don’t think the Yankees have a huge value on Volpe right now anymore

[Cory Engelhardt]

9 minutes ago, lecroy24fan said:

Volpe isn't fixable. He's a bad defensive SS, despite what you say. I've watched a lot of Yankees games and he makes Tristan Gray look like a gold glover. He should have at least 10 more errors this year alone but hometown scoring. At the plate he's a chaser, worse than Lewis was last year.

Good to know. If that is the case I can absolutely understand why the Yankees are looking to probably move on from him 

[Mike Sixel]

10 minutes ago, lecroy24fan said:

Volpe isn't fixable. He's a bad defensive SS, despite what you say. I've watched a lot of Yankees games and he makes Tristan Gray look like a gold glover. He should have at least 10 more errors this year alone but hometown scoring. At the plate he's a chaser, worse than Lewis was last year.

That's what I thought, but I hadn't seen him...

[Whammy]

Volpe wouldn’t be the first guy to have a bit of a renaissance after leaving NY, but it’s a no for me. If I’m the Twins FO I’m looking to solve problems and I just don’t see him as solving anything for us.

 

[lecroy24fan]

1 hour ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Good to know. If that is the case I can absolutely understand why the Yankees are looking to probably move on from him 

I anyone thinks some of our fans are hard on players here, some of the stuff I've seen directed towards Volpe by Yankee fans make that look like a normal day.

[Cory Engelhardt]

9 minutes ago, lecroy24fan said:

I anyone thinks some of our fans are hard on players here, some of the stuff I've seen directed towards Volpe by Yankee fans make that look like a normal day.

That’s why I think a fresh start for him could be a good idea. Not saying he is the answer here, but I don’t see him staying in New York either 

[ashbury]

3 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

1) I do think he would improve the infield defense. 

2) I don't know if his bat will play

But, enough about Ryan Kreidler.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Volpe wow.  He is Knoblauch with the yips.  He literally can’t throw the ball to the baseman. 3rd, 2nd, 1st it doesn’t matter and this was for a players whose defense was hits strong suit.  You can get him cheap and he absolutely has to leave New York.  I think he is potentially redeemable. He would likely take Kreidler spot as the backup,  absolutely zero overpay but it’s not an awful idea.  
 

it would be a similar situation to Bradley. Obviously there are some fundamental things to work on, but this is a confidence issue. He needs a new start and has been a 3 war player for multiple years. I pull the trigger.  

[DocBauer]

No to Volpe. I like Kreidler as the temp SS, K-Pepper getting his feet wet at the ML level in August and September, even though Houston will probably take over in 2028, or later in 2027. The Twins are building the best INF they've had in years.

Said it before and will say it again, IMO, IF the Yankees acquire Jeffers, I don't believe they see him as a rental. They will believe...being the Yankees...that being a Yankee and getting something like 4-5yrs and $15-16M per will make him resign. And they can afford that.

I'd be asking for Rodriguez, who looks like, possibly, the next Duran. I believe he already hits 100mph, and can be nasty, but has some control issues. He's probably an instant upgrade to the bullpen now, and a possible weapon in 2027 and beyond.

I'd probably ask for a solid AA arm as well to help fill in the rotation gap currently in the Twins system. Maybe a Gallagher or similar arm? And I'd be willing to toss in Wallner to sweeten the deal, possibly Larnach if the AA arm was a little better. The Yankees live for LH bats with power.

[Linus]

Hard (very hard) pass. 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

What is the difference between Bradley last year and Volpe this year?

[bean5302]

Why not just promote Culpepper? Volpe's ceiling looks like serviceable SS, but he's probably best written off as depth.

[jorgenswest]

Isn’t Volpe already in arbitration making 3.475 million? Even if they did acquire him and he did well there would calls next July for him to be traded at peak value.

They would be better off acquiring buy low players that are pre arbitration so they have time to reap the benefits of any turn around.