Yankees: 3 top prospects most likely to be traded this summer

2. Anthony Volpe

We’re very sorry to Anthony Volpe, the Yankees’ first-round pick from 2019 who’s having a resurgent season in the minors after being a bit of a bat-last afterthought, but his path to playing time in the Bronx is tough to discern.

With DJ LeMahieu locked down long-term, a move off shortstop to second base seems unlikely. Gleyber Torres is currently a big part of this team’s present and future — and if the Yankees do replace him, it’ll probably be with a major signing this offseason like Corey Seager. Oswald Peraza, the Yankees’ helium alert No. 4 prospect, also plays short.

Volpe’s bat has matched his glove in 2021, but there are so many blockades coming from all sides here. We just don’t see it.

The helpful thing here is the Yanks won’t have to make much of a sales pitch; Volpe’s 20 years old, he’s hitting .290 with a .414 OBP, eight homers, 39 RBI and 16 steals at Single-A, and he’s an above-average defender to begin with. He could easily be the red-hot centerpiece of a trade for a lefty bat, or potentially center fielder Starling Marte if the Yanks throw in some pitching depth (…Abreu?).

We can’t figure out a way for him to put on the pinstripes in the next few years, though, so apologies that our minds automatically go here. It’s human nature.