MLB Trade Deadline: 5 best spots for Joey Votto

1. New York Yankees

The New York Yankees must find a new first baseman after this season, when Mark Teixeira becomes a free agent. If the Yankees want to jump-start their rebuild, trading for Joey Votto would be a wise decision. He would immediately replace Teixeira and give the Yankees an elite first baseman for the foreseeable future.

While New York definitely has the monetary needs necessary to acquire Votto, it might not have the prospects. The Yankees have three top-tier prospects in Jorge Mateo, Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez. Cincinnati would likely command two of those three players. The Yankees really need Judge’s bat, so perhaps Mateo and Sanchez would work. Still, they won’t be happy giving up two of their only three high-end prospects.

It might be worth it for the Yankees, though. Prospects are prospects for a reason. They are largely an unknown. Trading two unknown pieces for an elite first baseman like Votto could work out. It would be a significant risk for their future, but the Yankees are a team that might be willing to roll the dice on someone like Votto. The Steinbrenners have, after all, proven to be a very impatient bunch at times.

For more MLB Trade Rumors, check out FanSided’s MLB hub page.