New York Yankees: Acquisition of Tim Locastro has a Luke Voit vibe
Following the surprising addition to the top of their rotation in a trade with the Seattle Mariners, the New York Yankees made a low-key trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers that could end up providing great results.
On November 20th, the New York Yankees sent out three minor league players headlined by top prospect Justus Sheffield to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for James Paxton. Although this news was a deserving grab of the headlines, the Yankees also made an intriguing low-key trade the following day when they sent out Drew Finley and cash to acquire Tim Locastro from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Despite an unimpressive start to his major league career, Locastro has shown the ability to get on base at a high rate throughout each level of the minor leagues. To make him even more appealing, Locastro has also shown the ability to compile extra base hits at a consistent rate.
Due to this, the acquisition of Locastro has the same low-key vibe as the Luke Voit acquisition by the Yankees prior to the trade deadline last season. Prior to joining the Bronx Bombers, Voit played in 70 games for the St. Louis Cardinals at the major league level. During those games, he put together a modest slash-line of .240/.307/.432 with only 14 extra base hits.
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Although these numbers were not impressive, the Yankees acquired Voit due to his previous display of consistency throughout the minor league levels. Throughout his six-year minor league career, Voit put together a slash-line of .288/.370/.459, which gave the Yankees confidence that he could eventually bring the same consistency to the major league level.
As Locastro has shown a similar offensive ability throughout his own six-year minor league career with a slash-line of .292/.376/.404, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman could be hoping to strike lightning in a bottle twice through another low-key acquisition. After all, Voit proved his minor league career was not a fluke when he put together a slash-line of .333/.405/.689 during his 39 games at the major league level with the Bronx Bombers last season.
Locastro is unlikely to be able to showcase his talents in a starting role as Voit was able to last season unless there is an unexpected injury or trade that creates a void for him to fill. Nonetheless, as he has the ability to play first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and all three outfield position, he could end up seeing a decent amount of time in a reserve role which could give him the ability to prove his worth.
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If Locastro is able to remain on the Yankees 40-man roster throughout the offseason, he could be an intriguing player to watch during Spring Training. During this time, he will likely compete with Ronald Torreyes and Tyler Wade for a utility role at the major league level. As Voit showed last season, if the right situation presents itself, anything can happen in the world of baseball.