5 Yankees who might have trouble keeping 40-man roster spot

1. Luke Voit

Luke Voit is currently the New York Yankees’ starting first baseman, and we’d guess not many fans would be upset by that. He’s a fan favorite, just finished the 2020 season as a home run champ, has been nothing but productive when healthy, and provides the necessary energy and passion this roster lacks.

But the Yankees waved the white flag on Voit when they traded for Anthony Rizzo, indicating they were fed up with his constant injury troubles. Then, they didn’t fit him into the lineup when there was an opportunity to do so after he returned to full strength.

And what has this offseason offered thus far? Endless rumors about the Yankees’ starting first baseman in 2022. Will it be Freddie Freeman, who the Yankees are reportedly ready to make a run at? What about Matt Olson after a trade with the Oakland Athletics materializes since they match up so well? Rizzo might return if those two options fall through, leaving Voit as Plan D?

If last season’s actions and this offseason’s rumors didn’t sour the relationship, then man, Voit might not know how to hold a grudge. But it’s becoming more and more evident that the Yankees will move on from him and trade him and his $5.4 million salary to create payroll flexibility and give Voit the opportunity to start elsewhere since he has three more years of arbitration remaining.

Pretty insane that this is what will probably happen to him after slugging 68 homers and 182 RBI while maintaining an .883 OPS and 137 OPS+ in 281 career games with the Yankees. But unless New York has plans to put him back as the starter and have mended whatever bridges might been burned along the way, Voit’s exit is a fait accompli.

Projecting New York Yankees’ Opening Day roster for 2022

The New York Yankees, believe it or not, WILL have an Opening Day roster whenever 2022 arrives, and we're projecting these players to be on it.