#1. Anthony Volpe to get MLB cap
A top team executive says that the Yankees‘ top prospect, Anthony Volpe, is almost ready to join the big league team. Last week at the Winter Meetings in San Diego, Vice President of Player Development Kevin Reese told the YES Network, “Any day.” Volpe, a shortstop who is 21 years old, is No. 10 on Baseball America’s list of the top 100 prospects in the game.
Volpe hit.251 with 18 homers, 60 RBI, and an OPS of .820 in 110 games at Double-A Somerset before being moved up to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he hit .
236 with three homers in 22 games. Volpe has already gone to the team’s player development complex in Tampa, where he has been getting ready for a shortstop competition with Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Oswald Peraza.
#2. Sabathia’s charity throws a party
CC Sabathia is no longer pitching but his charitable initiatives remain in force. The PitCCh-In Foundation, which is run by the retired Yankees pitcher, held a holiday party for more than 200 children in need on Monday. There was glow-in-the-dark bowling, games, and music.
The kids also got burgers, pizza, fries, candy, and other treats. Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes gave Sabathia and his wife, Amber, keys to the city. He also gave keys to Jim and Elvira Grau, who own Space Events, and to Janel Johnston, who runs the “Prevention, Opportunity, and Preparation” program for the community group In The Meantime.
#3. Eight teams may want Torres
3. NJ Advance Media’s Bridget Hyland says that the Yankees could trade Gleyber Torres to one of eight teams. A recent panel of SNY baseball experts claimed that the Marlins, the Pirates, the White Sox, the Brewers, the Angels, and the Tigers could make offers. One of the panelists also named the Dodgers and the Cubs.
#4. Kahnle is happy to be back
Tommy Kahnle returned to the Yankees’ lineup last week with a two-year, $11.5 million contract. He told MLB Network Radio:
“I definitely told the Yankees if they were interested in reuniting, I would love it. We were looking at places where I could fit in the bullpen, but it all came to fruition that night. Basically, I was ecstatic that the Yankees were very interested in bringing me back because I felt like I had unfinished business there. Obviously Tommy John, and part of the business side, I couldn’t do anything for almost two years. Coming back now means a lot to me.”
#5. Yankees sign Bronx native
5. Jack Curry of the YES Network has reported the Yankees have signed right-handed pitcher James Norwood to a deal for the minor leagues.
In his five seasons with the Cubs, Padres, and Phillies, Norwood, who is now 28, hasn’t set the Major Leagues on fire. Norwood had a 1-0 record and an 8.31 ERA in 20 games with Philadelphia last year. Norwood pitched for the Phillies for 17 ⅓ innings. During that time, he struck out 22 batters and walked nine.
#6. Sabathia says Aaron Judge worth the deal
The Yankees agreed to pay him $40 million per season for the next nine years, which is a huge deal for a 30-year-old. The Yankees paid a lot of money to keep Aaron Judge on their team, but CC Sabathia says the outfielder was worth every penny of the $360 million deal. He played on Judge’s team in the Bronx for four years. According to him:
“I think he got paid the perfect amount. The biggest signing was to get Aaron Judge. And they got that accomplished. So, everything after that is just icing on the cake.”
#7. Auction of Judges’ 62nd HR ball to end
The auction for Aaron Judge‘s 62nd home run ball, which he hit for the New York Yankees, ends this Saturday. The auction ends at 9 p.m. central time on Saturday, December 17.
Goldin Auctions says that the current bid for the ball that Roger Maris used to break the American League record for home runs in a season is $1.2 million. There have been 5 bids on the ball so far, and more are likely to come in before the sale is over.
At Globe Life Field on October 4, Judge hit a record-breaking home run off of Rangers pitcher Jesus Tinoco. The lucky fan who caught the ball was Cory Youmans from Dallas. In 1998, Mark McGwire’s ball from his 70th home run sold for $3 million.
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