Bleeding Yankee Blue: DOES TRADING LUKE VOIT MAKE SENSE?

Monday, November 9, 2020

DOES TRADING LUKE VOIT MAKE SENSE?

After an unprecedented shorted season I think it is fair to assume that this winter is going to be filled with a lot of unknowns. One of the biggest unknowns heading into winter is what Luke Voit's future looks like. Is he a Yankee, or is he trade bait?

I think the Yankees will approach this offseason differently then any other in history. The Yankees are going to get creative in order to create an improved team without spending a fortune. To do this the Yankees will have to consider EVERYTHING and that could include moving Luke Voit elsewhere, but I don't think it makes as much sense as some people think it will.

We keep hearing on social media that "Luke Voit's value will never be higher" and that may be true to a certain extent. His value to the Yankees has been extraordinary, maybe not as much to another team. He's been a huge asset to the Yankees since we acquired him in 2018. He's become a clubhouse leader, a powerful bat, and a guy that can come through in the clutch.

I really like Voit. Is he perfect? No, I wish he was better defensively but I don't think his defense is a deal breaker. Even with what he lacks he's done what the Yankees have asked and succeeded with his .279BA, 57 home runs and 147 RBI in 213 games. He's fought through a sports hernia that required surgery last season and on-going plantar fasciitis this season but still hit 22 home runs while still battling an injury. He's a gamer and he's improved so it's no surprise why the trade rumors are circulating.

But if the Yankees decided to explore trade possibilities, would they be able to get they expect? Or maybe that is a better question for us the fans. I like Voit a lot, but as I sit and think about what the Yankees NEED I don't think it makes much sense.

Besides re-signing DJ LeMahieu the Yankees need more starting rotation depth, an upgrade for shortstop and catcher. As much as I love Voit, he's not going to bring us a good top of the rotation starter. He's also not giving us an upgraded shortstop or catcher. The Yankees need roster upgrades, but they also need them at the right cost. Right now Voit is under team control until 2024 and even with a sizeable raise this winter, he will still be affordable.

In the end, I don't think trading Voit gives the Yankees the payroll flexibility or the upgrades fans are looking for....so what's the point? Not only that, who replaces him? No one we currently have that's for sure. I think the cries to trade Voit are for an unrealistic expected return so we might as well keep him.