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Yankees: 3 Luke Voit trades Brian Cashman has to explore

By Adam Weinrib |
Luke Voit #59 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 17, 2020 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Luke Voit #59 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 17, 2020 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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The Yankees (sigh) are going to probably explore trading Luke Voit this winter, coming off a career year.

New York Yankees fans don’t want to hear about it, and we don’t want to write about it, but it’s trending, we’re sad, and so here we are! We’ve arrived at this moment: Do the Yankees need to consider trading Luke Voit to maximize his value and open up the infield log jam a little bit if DJ LeMahieu returns?

In short, according to our analysis … no. There’s no guarantee that a slugging first baseman nets you more in trade than what Voit provides by being in the lineup. 30-40+ homers, endless intangibles, constant improvement. Also, not for nothing, but maybe LeMahieu doesn’t want to permanently play first base? Perhaps he wouldn’t sign with a team that wanted him to do such a thing? But we digress.

Regardless of loyalty, Brian Cashman will at least be forced to examine Voit’s value across the league. These teams, constantly in need of the pop he can provide, might consider changing the Yankees’ everyday lineup by striking a deal here.

Eric Thames #9 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Eric Thames #9 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

3. Voit to the Nationals

The Yankees and Nationals could talk shop on a Luke Voit trade.

One season removed from winning one of the most thrilling modern World Series, the Nationals were forced to roll with the ridiculously jacked Eric Thames as their slugging first baseman, with Ryan Zimmerman on the shelf due to an opt out. Zimmerman may be retiring in earnest; his presence isn’t guaranteed moving forward, either. Thames is headed for free agency.

So maybe there’s a fit here, especially with the Universal DH arriving?

The Yankees could always use young pitching, and wouldn’t you believe it? Every single damn one of the Nationals’ top 10 prospects are pitchers. Maybe Voit for No. 3 prospect Wil Crowe and No. 9 lefty Seth Romero, who’s been a bit of trouble throughout his career and could benefit from a change of scenery?

The ceiling for a Voit trade isn’t massive, but two top-10 arms could be doable in the right situation.

Daniel Vogelbach #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Daniel Vogelbach #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

2. Voit to the Brewers

The Yankees could certainly help the Brewers out with their first base situation.

Luke Voit, or Ryon Healy? Luke Voit, or beefy stopgap Dan Vogelbach? If you’re willing to go with Vogey in the short-term, you should definitely be willing to entertain Voit, an upgraded version of the exact same package, in the long-term.

Plus, you’d get to taunt the Cardinals every year, who gave Voit up for a fungible bullpen arm. Win-win!

Perhaps lefty Aaron Ashby (No. 6) and MLB-ready OF Corey Ray (No. 10) could be worked out in exchange? A Voit trade is tough, because while he was the best slugger in the American League this year (upper echelon, look it up), it could be difficult to pry multiple top-end prospects away for a bat-first first baseman.

Depends on how close the team believes they are to contention, though, and also how weak the perceived prospect pool is.

The Brewers clearly don’t think they’re far off (heck, they had just as strong a regular season as the Astros and made their way into the October fray!), and don’t have a particularly strong farm system. Maybe the Yankees can swipe someone they believe to be the next Voit here.

Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

1. Voit to the Angels

Even without former Yankees GM Billy Eppler in place, could the Angels be a match for Luke Voit?

There’s a 100% chance that Luke Voit would very much kick the Yankees’ ass someday if they shipped him to the Angels, but the chances of this happening for an organization in flux hinge on whether or not they believe in their 27-year-old breakout Jared Walsh, who hit .293 in the shortened season without much of an advanced OBP to show for it.

Usually, the AL West team we most automatically pitch in hypothetical Yankees deals is the Mariners, but they extended top prospect Evan White before he even reached first base in the bigs. That’s not happening.

The Angels, on the other hand, have to contend for Mike Trout as soon as they possibly can, and are left with Albert Pujols in either the first base or DH spot for only one more year (oh my goodness). Voit would be an excellent short- and long-term play for them, and he plays the game exactly the way you’d want him to if you’re trying to craft a new foundation around him.

How about sending us No. 2 prospect Reid Detmers (lefty) and Walsh himself? Call it even?

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