3 optimistic predictions for Yankees in the 2023 MLB season

Yankees Predictions: Anthony Volpe Gets 150 At-Bats and Makes Playoff Roster

New York Yankees crown jewel prospect Anthony Volpe won't be on the Opening Day roster, though he'll get a significant chance to show off his skills in spring training after largely being relegated to mop-up duty in last year's camp.

But that doesn't mean he won't get a chance to make a big-league contribution after getting a few months more season at Triple-A.

Chris Kirschner made it clear this week in The Athletic that the Yankees are still exploring trades for Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Gleyber Torres ahead of Opening Day. Forget ruling out a Torres trade once the Marlins were eliminated as a landing spot. The Yankees have to make sure they have enough punch in their lineup in 2023, but there's a chance they'll make that a reality by promoting Volpe and utilizing DJ LeMahieu effectively rather than continuing to lean on Torres. Kiner-Falefa certainly sounds like a goner by midseason.

One or both maneuvers would open the door for Volpe, who had the first 20 homer/50 stolen base season in the minors since Andruw Jones last season. In a "down year." Right.

Anyway, you remember Jones' first big-league cameo, right? The Braves threw him right into the fire, where he slugged two home runs in a World Series game at Yankee Stadium in 1996? Expect Volpe to be promoted in late July and get more run than Oswald Peraza did last year, but not as a regular starter. When it comes time for the Yankees to pick their best 26 for the postseason, no one will be able to make a reasonable argument he isn't among them, after he swipes 12 bags, hits .267 and posts an .807 OPS down the stretch.f f