Fansided

One future Yankee on each MLB team

By Adam Strangis

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 29: General view of a wall displaying retired New York Yankees numbers which is seen during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on July 29, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Rays 5-4. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 29: General view of a wall displaying retired New York Yankees numbers which is seen during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on July 29, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Rays 5-4. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 29
Next

GOODYEAR, AZ – FEBRUARY 23: Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds bats against the Cleveland Indians during a Spring Training Game at Goodyear Ballpark on February 23, 2018 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images)

Cincinnati Reds – Joey Votto, First Base

How much can a first baseman who is owed $145 million through their age 40 season which happens to be 2024 on the trade block? We all might find out because there has to come a point where holding onto Joey Votto stops making much sense for the Reds. Since there is such a major financial commitment, there’s going to be very few teams that can even enter the fray and New York is obviously one of them.

Votto is starting to get up there in age but he does possess a skill set that will like age like a fine wine and that’s getting on base. At the heart of offensive baseball, that’s the name of the game. Sure, chicks dig the long ball and the Yankees have that facet on lock down. The main criticism in some circles of Votto is he never hit enough home runs or drove in enough runs. That wouldn’t be a concern hitting in front of the Judge and Stanton combo. Greg Bird mans the first base position right now and that is one of the weak spots for the Yankees lineup.

Teams are wary of taking on huge contracts for older players but Votto might be the exception to that rule. He’s been mostly healthy through the course of his career and he could go the Joe Mauer route and still hit high in the order late into his 30’s. He would be an expensive leadoff man but the Yankees could foot the bill and Votto would be a virtual lock for 100+ runs in this lineup.

Home/MLB