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New York Yankees: Luke Voit the first baseman for the future

By David Hill

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 7: Luke Voit #45 of the New York Yankees hits a single off of relief pitcher Chasen Bradford #60 of the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning of a game at Safeco Field on September 7, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. The Yankees won the game 4-0. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 7: Luke Voit #45 of the New York Yankees hits a single off of relief pitcher Chasen Bradford #60 of the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning of a game at Safeco Field on September 7, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. The Yankees won the game 4-0. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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The New York Yankees thought they had their long term first baseman. As it turns out, they may have that player, even if it is not who they expected.

At the start of the season, the New York Yankees felt that they had their first baseman of the future in Greg Bird. They had been waiting to give him the position for some time, but Bird had yet to take flight due to injuries. However, heading into 2018, he was finally healthy, ready to show the Yankees that he was the answer at first base.

Instead, Bird flopped. Over his 296 plate appearances this season, he has produced a woeful .197/.284/.386 batting line, hitting 11 homers and 14 doubles. On the positive side, he has continued to show an excellent eye at the plate, walking in 9.5% of his plate appearances. However, his 78 OPS+ ranks 255th out of the 290 players in the majors with at least 250 plate appearances. For a first baseman, that is an embarrassment.

Then, along came Luke Voit. He had been blocked in St. Louis, with the Cardinals having Matt Carpenter and Jose Martinez in front of him at the major league level. While the Yankees needed to find something competent at first base, the Cardinals needed pitching. As such, in an under the radar move, Voit was sent to the Bronx for Chasen Shreve and Giovanny Gallegos.

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After a rough start to his Yankees career, Voit has been on fire. Heading into Saturday’s action, he had posted a .328/.384/.642 batting line in 73 plate appearances, hitting seven homers. Yes, it is a small sample size, but considering the general ineptitude that the Yankees have seen at first from Bird, and the likes of Neil Walker, the Yankees will take anything they can get at this point.

Even better, Voit is playing like a piece for the future. With a relatively weak free agent class at first base, Voit has a chance to establish himself as a part of the 2019 lineup. With a strong finish to 2018, and a solid October, he could be firmly in the Yankees plans.

Should that prove to be the case, this would be a tremendous boon to the Yankees long term plans. Voit is under team control until 2024, and is not eligible for arbitration until 2021. As he is 27 years old already, the Yankees would have their first baseman locked in through his prime, with the ability to use payroll on other areas of need.

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Luke Voit has been a revelation for the New York Yankees. With another strong month, he could even be the future.

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