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The Yankees have made a move to improve their first base situation by acquiring Luke Voit from the Cardinals.
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The Yankees Trade for Luke Voit
On July 29, 2018, the Yankees acquired first baseman Luke Voit from the Cardinals in exchange for international slot money and minor league pitcher Giovanny Gallegos. Voit was batting .263/.316/.471 with 14 homers and 36 RBIs at the time of the trade. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the 22nd round of the 2013 MLB draft out of Missouri State University.
Why the Yankees Traded for Luke Voit
On July 29, 2018, the New York Yankees traded pitcher Giovanny Gallegos and first baseman Luke Voit to the St. Louis Cardinals for international slot money. The move was made as the Yankees looked to shed salary and clear a spot on their 40-man roster for infielderBrandon Drury, who had been acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier in the day.
The trade of Voit came as a surprise to many, as he had been one of the Yankees’ most productive players since being acquired from the Cardinals just two months prior. In 39 games with New York, Voit slashed .333/.405/.689 with 14 homers and 33 RBI. He had been particularly hot of late, hitting .345/.423/.783 with eight home runs in 20 games in July.
So why did the Yankees trade Voit?
The simple answer is that they didn’t think he was good enough to be a long-term piece of their puzzle. While Voit had been productive in his short time with the Yankees, they didn’t believe that his performance was sustainable over a full season. They also didn’t think that he was good enough defensively to be an everyday first baseman, which is why they acquired Drury to play the position.
In addition, trading Voit allowed the Yankees to clear a spot on their 40-man roster for Drury without having to make another move. With Voit gone, the Yankees now have an open spot on their roster that they can use to add another player if they need to during the season.
What the Yankees Gave Up in the Trade
In order to acquire Voit and make room on their 40-man roster, the Yankees sent relievers Chasen Shreve and Giovanny Gallegos to the Cardinals, in addition to infielder Breyvic Valera.
Shreve, 28, has been a mainstay in the Yankees bullpen since 2014, when he made his debut with the team. In 251 appearances with the Yankees, Shreve has compiled a 4.13 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. He was especially effective in 2017, when he posted a 2.17 ERA in 70 appearances. However, Shreve has struggled at times this season, posting a 5.59 ERA in 38 appearances.
Gallegos, 27, has also been a key member of the Yankees bullpen over the past few seasons. In 37 appearances this season, he has compiled a 2.38 ERA and 1,.03 WHIP. Like Shreve, Gallegos has also struggled at times this season, posting a 5.14 ERA in 37 appearances. However, he has shown flashes of brilliance at times this season, including a stretch in which he didn’t allow an earned run in 16 consecutive appearances.
Valera, 26, is an infielder who has spent time with both the Cardinals and Orioles this season. In 36 games with the Cardinals this season, Valera hit .188/.231/.250 with one home run and four RBIs. He also appeared in seven games with the Orioles earlier this season, but did not record a hit in eight plate appearances.
How the Yankees Lineup Looks With Luke Voit
The Yankees have made a big splash ahead of the trade deadline, acquiring first baseman Luke Voit from the Cardinals in exchange for pitcher Giovanny Gallegos and minor league outfielder Timothy Locastro. The Bronx Bombers have also picked up starting pitcher Jaime Garcia from the Twins in a separate deal.
Voit, 27, is a power-hitting first baseman who will provide some much-needed depth for the Yankees at a time when they are dealing with injuries to key players like Greg Bird and Matt Holliday. In 45 games with the Cardinals this season, Voit has hit .246 with eight home runs and 23 RBIs.
The addition of Voit should help to solidify the Yankees’ lineup, which has been struggling as of late. With him in the mix, the Yankees will likely have a new batting order that looks something like this:
1. Brett Gardner (LF)
2. Aaron Judge (RF)
3. Didi Gregorius (SS)
4. Gary Sanchez (C)
5. Luke Voit (1B)
6. Starlin Castro (2B)
7. Chase Headley (3B)
8. Jacoby Ellsbury/Aaron Hicks (CF)
Luke Voit’s Career
The Yankees have traded for Luke Voit, who is currently a first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals. Voit was drafted by the Cardinals in the 22nd round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of Missouri State University. He made his MLB debut with the Cardinals in 2017.
Luke Voit’s Minor League Career
Luke Voit was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 22nd round of the 2013 MLB draft. He made his professional debut that year with the rookie level Gulf Coast League Cardinals, hitting .303/.357/.463 in 13 games. In 2014, he played for the Class A Peoria Chiefs and hit .260/.325/.427 with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs in 126 games. The following season, he played for the Palm Beach Cardinals of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League where he batted .267/.330/.408 with 9 home runs and 46 RBIs in 117 games.
He spent 2016 with both theDouble-A Springfield Cardinals and Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, posting a combined .246/.329/.385 batting line with 12 home runs and 45 RBIs in 133 games between both clubs. Voit began the 2017 season back with Memphis.
Luke Voit’s Major League Career
Luke Voit was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 22nd round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of Missouri State University. He made his Major League debut with the Cardinals in 2016.
Voit was traded to the Yankees in 2018 in a deal that sent Sonny Gray to the Cincinnati Reds. He has been a key player for the Yankees ever since, anchoring their offense with his power hitting.
In 2020, Voit had a breakout season, belting 22 home runs and driving in 62 runs. He was named an All-Star for the first time in his career and helped lead the Yankees to their first World Series appearance since 2009.
How Will Luke Voit Fit With the Yankees?
The Yankees made a big splash at the trade deadline, acquiring slugger Luke Voit from the Cardinals. Voit immediately becomes one of the top power hitters in the Yankees lineup. But how will he fit with the Yankees? Let’s take a look.
Luke Voit’s Role With the Yankees
The Yankees acquired first baseman Luke Voit from the Cardinals in a trade deadline deal that sent reliever Chasen Shreve and minor league player Giovanny Gallegos to St. Louis. The 27-year-old Voit is batting .263/.379/.495 with 14 home runs in 62 games for the Cardinals this season.
Voit will likely be used as a platoon player at first base and DH for the Yankees, as he has a career .817 OPS against left-handed pitchers and just a .721 OPS against righties. Against righties this season, Voit has an .814 OPS, while against lefties he has a .743 OPS. Yankees first baseman Greg Bird has struggled again this season, posting a .199/.286/.386 line with 11 homers in 84 games.
Luke Voit’s Potential With the Yankees
The New York Yankees have trade for Luke Voit, who is currently leading the National League in home runs. How will he fit with the Yankees and what does this mean for the team’s lineup?
Voit has been a revelation for the Cardinals this season, posting a .945 OPS with 21 home runs in just 62 games. He provides a much-needed power boost to a Yankees lineup that has been without sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton for large chunks of the season.
Voit will likely take over as the Yankees’ primary first baseman, with Greg Bird shifts to a backup role. This should give the Yankees a much-needed boost offensively, as they look to solidify their position in the AL East standings.
What Does This Mean for the Yankees?
The Yankees have been one of the most active teams leading up to the trade deadline. They have already made a few big moves, including trading for Giancarlo Stanton and Andrew McCutchen. Now, they have made another move, acquiring first baseman Luke Voit from the Cardinals.
The Yankees’ Lineup
The Yankees have a stacked lineup, as usual. Judge, Stanton, and Sanchez will provide the power, while LeMahieu, Gardner, and Didi Gregorius will get on base and score runs. Luke Voit will add some depth to the middle of the order, and Aaron Hicks should be back at some point to provide a boost as well. Brett Gardner could see some time in left field with Clint Frazier and Giancarlo Stanton splitting time in right field.
The Yankees’ Pitching Staff
The Yankees made a big splash at the trade deadline, acquiring slugger Luke Voit from the Cardinals. Voit immediately became the Yankees’ starting first baseman, and has been a big part of their success since.
But what does this mean for the Yankees’ pitching staff?
Well, for one thing, it means that the Yankees now have one of the best pitcher-hitters duos in baseball.Voight is a great hitter, and he’s also a good contact hitter, which means he can help take some of the pressure off of the Yankees’ pitchers.
It also means that the Yankees have another power bat in their lineup. With Voit in the lineup, the Yankees’ lineup is even more dangerous than it was before.
So, what does this mean for the Yankees’ pitching staff? It means they have one less thing to worry about.
The Yankees’ Farm System
The Yankees have one of the best farm systems in baseball. They have five of MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects, including second baseman Gleyber Torres (No. 5), outfielder Estevan Florial (No. 32), right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga (No. 34), shortstop Jorge Mateo (No. 39) and first baseman Mike Ford (No. 97). Their system is loaded with young talent, and they have a number of players who could make an impact in the majors in 2019.
