NY Mets sign former Yankees slugger, 2020 MLB home run leader

The New York Mets are bringing Luke Voit back to the big apple on a minor-league deal. 

Luke Voit has bounced around quite a bit since the 2020 season, his best so far in the big leagues. In that shortened 60-game campaign, Voit hit 22 home runs to lead all of baseball and the Yankees.

Since then, he’s played for the Padres, Nationals and most recently the Milwaukee Brewers this year before he was let go.

Voit is just the latest in a long line of ex-Yankees who once were viewed as centerpieces of the team’s core, but didn’t work out. Gary Sanchez, for one, has found success with the Padres after a short stint with these same Mets.

New York Mets sign Luke Voit: What to expect

Voit’s primary attribute is his power, something he struggled to discover in Milwaukee. The veteran did not accept a demotion to the minor leagues, and thus was granted his release. With New York, he will likely start in Triple-A before receiving an MLB call-up should he find his power stroke.

New York doesn’t need much help in the power department at first base, but with Pete Alonso’s injury, there should be a momentary hole in the major-league lineup. This is where Voit could fit in, if given the chance to.

Voit had been excited about his opportunity in Milwaukee, but did reference the early opt-out in his contract just in case the Brewers wanted to move on this season.

“I like this opportunity,” Voit told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in March. “You put the early [opt-out] in, obviously, in case something else happens. Maybe another guy gets injured or something, some other spot opens up for you. It’s there for their sake, too, to know it’s early but put pressure on them.”

With the Mets, the expectations will be low for a player like Voit. However, it could turn out to be a very smart flyer by GM Billy Eppler.