MLB insider proposes New York Yankees deal Gleyber Torres ahead of Opening Day so Anthony Volpe can start: "I kinda think the Yankees need to do that"
Add MLB insider Ken Rosenthal to the list of people who believe the New York Yankees should trade second baseman Gleyber Torres to help facilitate top prospect Anthony Volpe taking over at shortstop on opening day.
The Yankees have a logjam in that two of their best young talents – Volpe and Oswald Peraza – both are primarily shortstops. Both are performing at a top level in spring training, while Gleyber Torres played with Team Venezuela at the World Baseball Classic.
.@Ken_Rosenthal floats the idea of trading Gleyber Torres to make room for Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza on the Opening Day roster 👀
"I kinda think the Yankees need to do that"
Catch Ken's full comments: youtu.be/jk1W-VAiC64 https://t.co/hrx3647Hjs
Rosenthal spoke of the potential middle infield logjam on "Foul Territory" on Friday afternoon:
"If you trade Torres by opening day, you've got room for both (Volpe and Peraza). And, honestly, as good a player as Gleyber is, I kinda think the Yankees need to do that."
The battle for the New York Yankees' starting shortstop battle has, at this point, come down to No. 1 prospect Volpe and No. 3 prospect Peraza. Neither have made the decision easy. Volpe, 21, has 11 starts at shortstop through Thursday, while Peraza, 22, has started 10 games at the position.
New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes, who was on the hill Thursday, is impressed with both prospects, telling MLB.com:
“It’s a healthy battle. It’s going to bring the best out of both of them. I’m rooting for both of them. It’s going to be tough, a tough decision for the organization and Booney (manager Aaron Boone). But I’m pulling for both of them.”
However, with the Yankees in need of starting pitching and a starting outfielder (or two) due to injuries, why not deal from a position of strength and look to swing a Gleyber Torres trade that would free up the infield traffic jam while addressing a position or two of need?
"It's a risk, but you also have (veteran infielder DJ Lemahieu) and some other things, too," Rosenthal said. "They need just an injection of this youthful energy, even if it's a risk to play two guys like that fairly regularly. I don't know, they're both quite highly thought of. If you trade Torres for some pitching, that would be the thing to do."
If New York Yankees trade Gleyber Torres, who plays 2B?
If Gleyber Torres is traded, then who takes over at second base – Volpe or Peraza?
The general feeling among MLB Insiders is that Peraza would be the one to move over and Volpe would take shortstop. After all, none other than the last great Yankees shortstop, Derek Jeter, has already endorsed Volpe as New York's shortstop of the future.