Luke Voit isn’t a big league neophyte. Nor has the Yankees’ first baseman reached veteran’s status.
However, the major league home run leader this past season understands why his name has been dropped into trade talks during the early stages of the offseason.
Talking on YES Monday night, Voit said he doesn’t pay attention to the trade chatter, but his family and friends are locked into it.
“It is part of it, and everyone’s name is going to be thrown around,’’ Voit said. “Everyone is a GM, and everyone wants to talk baseball somehow and make the perfect trade. You don’t know what is going to happen.’’
Voit, who received a PRP shot in his foot following the season to tame a plantar fasciitis problem, isn’t looking to leave The Bronx.
“Obviously, I want to be a Yankee,’’ said Voit, who will be 30 in February and led the majors with 22 homers in the 60-game schedule that ended for the Yankees with a Game 5 loss to the Rays in the ALDS. In addition to the 22 homers, Voit drove in 52 runs in 56 games and posted a .948 OPS. “Everyone has their names thrown around, but you don’t know if it happens.’’
Like other Yankee issues, Voit’s future will likely depend on how DJ LeMahieu’s free agency turns out. If the versatile infielder returns after leading the majors in hitting with a .364 average and a 1.011 OPS, he could be shifted from second to first, which would allow the Yankees to move Gleyber Torres from short to second. With LeMahieu able to handle first, the Yankees could believe that Voit’s trade value will never be higher than it is right now and deal him.
“It will all sort itself out here with everything coming up here soon,’’ said Voit, who explained the foot problem hasn’t hindered his offseason conditioning program. “So we will see.’’