Yanks Go Yard
FanSided

3 trade destinations for Yankees’ Luke Voit after MLB installs Universal DH

Adam Weinrib|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 24: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Luke Voit #59 of the New York Yankees in action against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on June 24, 2021 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Royals 8-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 24: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Luke Voit #59 of the New York Yankees in action against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on June 24, 2021 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Royals 8-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
3 of 3
Yankees
Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

1. Cincinnati Reds

Joey Votto is a Hall of Famer, in our book.

Joey Votto is also 38 years old.

Nobody in our rolodex is acquiring Voit with the intention of making him their primary first baseman, but with more reps to go around, perhaps the Cincinnati Reds pull the trigger with the intention of using Votto in the DH spot for ~35 games, inserting Voit at first, and weighing the defensive downgrade with the offensive infusion?

Keep in mind the Reds will also be losing the offense and energy provided by Nicholas Castellanos last season, and will be attempting to make the postseason on the basis of a juggernaut at the plate (and not, as they did in 2020, off the strength of Trevor Bauer’s right arm).

The Reds are currently stuck in no man’s land, but play in a division not nearly strong enough to make some sort of race to the bottom worthwhile; with the roster they have in place, supplemented by reigning Rookie of the Year Jonathan India and a rising farm system, they’re going to win plenty of games against the Cubs and Pirates nearly by accident.

So why not try to spark some additional revenue with a Wild Card run, especially with expanded playoffs likely on the horizon?

The Yankees and Reds are willing trade partners; though we’ve tried and failed to find a Luis Castillo fit for years now, Brian Cashman bailed out Cincinnati big time in the Aroldis Chapman trade after the 2015 season. Perhaps A-Ball catcher Daniel Vellojin (Cincy’s No. 19 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) is a starting point here? The Yankees will go young, and they’ll search in the 20-25 range in a potential deal here.

Again, why wouldn’t you take such a minuscule risk on Voit if you were in need of offense? We’d rather he stay, but the writing’s on the wall.

Home/Yankees Rumors

Schedule