TAMPA — Luke Voit was politically correct standing at his locker Wednesday morning commenting on the Yankees signing free agent Anthony Rizzo about 10 hours earlier.
“I get it,” he said.
Sure, but it was easy to see and hear that Voit is having a tough time dealing with the Yankees bringing in Rizzo to play his first base position for the second time since last July.
Tuesday’s late night signing of Rizzo to a two-year, $32-million deal wasn’t just a late-season deal to address Voit having an injury-plagued year. This move was more permanent and likely will result in Voit being moved before the Yankees’ April 7 season opener.
“These next 19 games are important for me to show other teams … prove that I’m healthy again,” Voit said.
Voit added that he’s 100% healthy after missing most of last year with knee issues.
“I feel great, he said. “I feel healthy, and that’s all I wanted to control this year. I was preparing myself for a long season. I’m still staying positive.”
Voit admitted being upset and feeling a little dissed.
“Absolutely, he said.
Voit has given his heart and soul to the Yankees since joining them in a July 2018 trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, his hometown team. At the time, it appeared the Yankees just had acquired organizational depth. They got so much more in this deal, which sent Voit and international bonus slot money to the Cards for relievers Giovanny Gallegos and Chasen Shreve.
Voit, 31, spent a little time in Triple-A following the deal, but was a highly impactful Yankees first baseman by year’s end. He was productive again when healthy in 2019, batting .263 with 21 homers in 118 games, then led the majors with 22 homers during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. That’s also a year in which he kept playing every day with a very sore foot that required offseason surgery. All along, Voit became a huge fan favorite.
Last year was a nightmare for Voit, who first injured his knee during spring training. He wound up playing only 68 games. He still put up solid power numbers, 11 homers in 213 at-bats, but the Yankees wanted more of a sure thing health-wise down the stretch plus a left-handed bat to balance their lineup. Thus the trade-deadline deal with the Chicago Cubs for Rizzo, a power-hitting left-handed bat who also was a huge defensive upgrade from Voit.
“I was hurt (most of the year), so someone’s got to come in and fill that spot, and Anthony did do a good job last year,” Voit said.
Rizzo had a decent run with the Yankees — he hit .249 with eight homers in 49 games — but became a free agent after the year. Voit hoped that he’d be the Yankees’ starter again this year, but it was apparent the Yankees wanted to upgrade because they tried to trade for Matt Olson and sign free agent Freddie Freeman before and after the lockout.
And now Rizzo is back two days after manager Aaron Boone announced Voit was his starting first baseman. Voit heard what Boone said, but figured the endorsement was just temporary.
“I was the only (first baseman) on the roster technically (at the time), so it’s a pretty easy answer,” Voit said. “It was great, but not anymore.
“I know they want to be left-handed, so I get it. This has been a thing since last year with our team being righty dominant. It’s a business.”
Voit knows a trade probably will be coming soon, and this is a good year to be in his position because the designated hitter is coming to the National League. Freeman is still available and the best available first baseman, but Voit could be a very good and cheaper upgrade for an NL club that looking for a DH.
“Obviously Freddie is still a big part (of this) and I know there’s still going to be a lot more trades,” Voit said. “There are still 100 free agents out there, so I have no idea.”
If and when Voit is moved, he’ll probably be relieved, excited and sad.
“I’ve enjoyed myself since I’ve been here in ‘18 and I really enjoyed New York,” Voit said. “It’s the best place to play baseball and who knows? Maybe I’ll still be here. We’ll see what happens.”
