Yankees: Internal and external replacements for Luke Voit after injury news

It was nice somewhat avoiding the injury bug for like, six weeks, right New York Yankees fans? Now, back to reality.

Baked into the Corey Kluber update on Wednesday, which revealed he’d be shut down for a month, was a Grade 2 oblique strain for first baseman Luke Voit. An optimistic timetable would be a month. A more realistic one? Two months.

Once again, the Yankees will be without their slugging first baseman for a significant amount of time. Voit, who led MLB with 22 home runs in 2020, missed the first six weeks of the season after undergoing knee surgery, returned for 12 games, and will head back to the injured list.

Manager Aaron Boone will have to go back to his old plan of platooning guys at first base. Or, you know, the organization can figure out a couple more options that might be more intriguing.

Boone revealed who could be filling in for Voit shortly after he shocked us with the injury news, and sure, those are cool, but what about a few others?

Maybe another long-term one, too? There’s hardly a guarantee Voit comes back producing like his usual self, and obliques can affect players for the entirety of a season. We just want to be prepared, that’s all.

Here are some replacements for Yankees slugger Luke Voit at first base.

5. Mike Ford

He’s done it before. He’s a lefty hitter. Mike Ford has logged 98 games with the Bombers, but has yet to recapture that 2019 magic. Perhaps some consistent playing time this year can do him some good. But 2020 sent his stock plummeting.

Ford’s already seen 19 games in 2021 and he’s slashing .154/.290/.3327 with six runs scored, three home runs, five RBI and 10 walks. His 17 strikeouts aren’t a great look, but his hard hit percentage is an impressive 51.4%. He’s lifting more balls in the air, too.

Perhaps he’s among the top choices because he can hit from the left side of the plate, which is a trait the Yankees desperately need to diversify their lineup. But for the next two months? Not so sure.

4. Miguel Andújar

The Yankees seem to want to get a better look at Miguel Andújar, whether it’s to fit him in their long-term plans or use him as trade bait ahead of the deadline.

He’s seen a ton of action since the series against the Nationals, but he’s mostly played the outfield (eight games). He has one game under his belt at first base (this year and for his career), but it seems like Andújar (and Ford) will still be used on a part-time basis and slotted into action when guys need days off or Boone wants to shift around the infield/lineup.

Miggy’s presence at first will also depend on how Clint Frazier fares in the coming weeks. If he doesn’t rebound, you can bet Andújar will continue to get reps in the outfield, with first base will be a bit of an afterthought for him.

The Yankees have been playing fairly tight defense, which has really helped them right the ship. Playing an inexperienced Andújar at first on a consistent basis just might not be the answer, but he will probably be part of some sort of equation.

3. Chris Gittens

Can. This. Please. Happen? Why are we still waiting for it?

Chris Gittens is a monster, plain and simple. He destroys baseballs and he loves doing it. Isn’t that what this Yankees team likes? More homers, right? The calls to diversify the lineup with contact bats/situational hitters have only been answered marginally.

So why not give Gittens a chance if you’re not making overarching philosophical changes to the offense? The 27-year-old fits right in!

Voit’s absence leaves the Yankees without a momentous power bat — one that carried them last year — and with so many other players struggling in the power department (Frazier, Gary Sanchez, Gleyber Torres, Brett Gardner), Gittens could provide a much-needed infusion.

He just had a kid, too! He could use a raise!

But in all seriousness, Gittens is an exit velo beast, too. Don’t the statheads in the front office realize that? What’s the holdup, here? He’s been showing off his power in the Yankees’ farm system since 2015. Though his ascension hasn’t been considerable (this is his first action at Triple-A), he tore up Double-A in 2019 and is off to a hot start in 2021.

If not now, when?

2. DJ LeMahieu

Voit is a machine, but he’s not LeMachine. DJ LeMahieu at first base makes a ton of sense. It allows the Bombers to use lefty slugger Rougned Odor at second base to help mix up the offense.

LeMahieu has obviously been open to moving around the infield, which we didn’t think would be a reality after he signed his lucrative six-year contract. He earned his keep. He should stay at second base if he desires.

But DJLM is a team guy, through and through. He’s played first, second and third in 2021, and has nearly played first (22 games) as much as he’s played second (24). At this point, he might as well be the Yankees’ primary first baseman so they can maintain the best offense and most reliable defense possible.

He’s yet to make an error in 122 innings at the position and, nothing against DJ, but Odor turning those double plays from Torres and Gio Urshela are quite electrifying. Maybe this is the best answer internally. The Yankees don’t have to do much to maintain the status quo while Ford and Andújar will still be there for part-time reps in the event of a lineup change.

Unless … Brian Cashman decides to make a splash.