The New York Yankees should be thrilled with Anthony Volpe.
He took up the club’s shortstop position in 2023 and had a very good debut season. Volpe’s offensive numbers aren’t very impressive, but he demonstrated plenty of potential while collecting his first Gold Glove Award.
The 22-year-old is currently starting his sophomore season and should see some improvement. It’s uncertain what he’ll do this season, but The Athletic’s Jim Bowden named Volpe as one of the players he believes will “explode” in 2024.
“Volpe had a strong rookie season, with 21 home runs, 24 stolen bases and 3.3 WAR (Baseball Reference),” according to Bowden. “He hit only.209 and reached base at a pathetic 28% rate. He played in front of the most discerning fans and in the most tough market for a rookie. And he did it with class, demonstrating his work ethic and great baseball IQ.
“He did an excellent job of adjusting, and I believe he will fare better against breaking balls this season after struggling with them last year.” If he can raise his average to.240-.250, he could hit 24-25 home runs and steal 30 bases (or more). He scored 62 runs last season and should score more this year; if he bats ninth for the Yankees, he’ll be followed by DJ LeMahieu, Juan Soto, and Aaron Judge.
New York as a club should be better off in 2024 than it was in 2023. If Volpe can take a step forward, he will undoubtedly contribute to the club’s success.
Rangers reportedly made an undisclosed bid as the NHL trade deadline approaches.
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The New York Rangers have made three transactions in recent days, fueling rumors that the team is seeking to complete a trade before the NHL trade deadline on March 8.
Gianni Maltese of Blue Line Station said that a credible source close to their publication informed them that the Rangers had set the ball in motion to enable a large deal, saying:
“The Rangers have formally made a trade offer, according to a behind-the-scenes expert from our reliable source at Bleacher Report,” Maltese said in a statement.
Could the Rangers make a huge move in the coming days?
This comes after the Rangers demoted Jake Leschyshyn to Hartford and called up Adam Edstrom and Matt Rempe to the NHL roster.
Given that Edstrom and Rempe both play forward, there is suspicion that the Rangers’ front office is seeking to make a move at the 4C position. Multiple stories in the recent week have linked many centers to the Rangers, including Anaheim Ducks third-liner Frank Vatrano.
How the Rangers’ third line is performing in 2023-24
Adding a player to their roster in a two-for-one deal reduces roster space while giving the Rangers the opportunity to move other pieces to complete an ideal trade.
The Rangers have been strong on defense, particularly in the passing lanes, allowing only 248 assists to opponents, which ranks 10th in the league among all teams. However, reinforcements at center are wanted, as they will help the squad put their disappointing month of January behind them, maintain their recent success, and build on their current four-game victory streak.
