1. Luke Voit to Detroit
Now, he can finally live the reality of John Sterling’s home run call every day!
The Tigers are much closer to postseason contention than anyone outside the Metro area will give them credit for, but under AJ Hinch, they’re pitching well, running more and winning series ever since a slow start to the season had them looking like baseball’s worst team.
The future rotation seems extremely set, and the offensive tandem of Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson will likely be anchors at the hot corner and in the outfield. Eventually, Tork might transition to first base … but not between 2022 and 2024, when Voit will be more than happy to drill 35 homers and help infuse a dose of competitive fire at the position currently occupied by … who, exactly? Miguel Cabrera on days he doesn’t DH? Jonathan Schoop? Does Schoop absolutely have to play first so Harold Castro can start at second every day? This doesn’t need to occur, right?
Here, we’ll help you: send Yankee Killer Schoop to New York as a versatile bench guy who can help down the stretch, as well as lefty Joey Wentz and outfielder Daz Cameron, and you can have Voit. What, you think another team’s giving you a bigger haul for the ex-Orioles masher? You’re not getting a prospect who can provide more punch than the already-established Voit. Sorry. Teams don’t even give away top prospects for the elite of the elite veteran rentals anymore. Game’s changed.
Someday, Voit will hit free agency again, and Torkelson will probably slide over, his ceiling diminished by leaving third base. Until then, Detroit could use more grinders — and it helps that this one’s actually good.
Yankees: Predicting who’s gone in MLB trade deadline sell-off
The New York Yankees will have to part with both prospects and established players before the July trading deadline if they hope to improve immediately.