Yankees predicted to trade for $4.5M 2-time All-Star, ending Anthony Volpe's time in New York

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Yankees predicted to trade for $4.5M 2-time All-Star, ending Anthony Volpe's time in New York originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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The New York Yankees have caught back up with the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. While New York is trying to work through the growing pains with shortstop Anthony Volpe, the situation is becoming increasingly difficult.

Volpe was once viewed as one of the Yankees' top prospects. Now, he is a player who has yet to find his footing at the major league level.

“In his first seven June appearances, Volpe has recorded a putrid .083/.154/.125 slash line across 24 ABs. He only has two hits and three total bases during that stretch, having drawn two walks while striking out five times,” SI’s Devon Platana wrote.

Volpe got off to a solid start after returning from injury, but that success was short-lived. The shortstop is still splitting playing time with Jose Caballero, which was never the organization's vision.

“Volpe got off to a solid start but the positive results only lasted a couple of weeks, and he’s since been abysmal on both sides of the field. Despite winning a Gold Glove award in his rookie season, Volpe has been prone to making fundamental defensive mistakes—he led all American League shortstops with 18 errors last year,” SI’s Karl Rasmussen wrote.

The Yankees are in dire need of a dependable shortstop who can contribute on both offense and defense. One player who fits that description is Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz.

“The Trade: Cincinnati Reds send SS Elly De La Cruz to the New York Yankees for IF George Lombard Jr., RHP Carlos Lagrange, OF Spencer Jones and RHP Chase Hampton. But the Yankees could make it worth Cincinnati's while if the deadline rolls around and they can't stomach the idea of going into the postseason with Anthony Volpe and Ryan McMahon as the primary plan for the left half of the infield. Because even though the Cincinnati Reds have team control over Elly De La Cruz through 2029, the fact that they haven't been able to ink him to a long-term extension has already become a full-blown thing,” Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wrote.

The Yankees could be an ideal landing spot for De La Cruz, and New York may be a destination where he would be willing to sign the long-term extension that Cincinnati has been unable to secure. A move like that would also allow the Yankees to trade Volpe and give him a fresh start elsewhere.

De La Cruz has earned $4.5 million during his career and is still under arbitration control. He would provide the Yankees with an impact bat and dynamic production from the shortstop position, something few players at the position can offer. A trade of this magnitude could allow both the Yankees and Volpe to move forward in a new direction.

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