Aaron Boone didn't shut down the idea of a fan-favorite slugger getting back to the Bronx to help quell the Yankees batting issues.
The New York Yankees have the second-worst batting average in the MLB and are 21st in runs per game. These are not the sluggers fans in the Bronx have come accustomed to over the years. A tepid MLB trade deadline did not give Brian Cashman many opportunities to upgrade the roster, and the trades he did make did not address the offensive struggles.
On one hand, you can understand the lack of moves made because the options were severely limited at this year's deadline. Additionally, this is a roster with D.J. LeMahieu, Anthony Rizzo, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, and Gleyber Torres. Hits should not be an issue, but a concurrent slump seems to have hit the entire roster this year.
The idea that the team that is will turn it around is not a safe one, though, and the Yankees would be wise to keep looking at options to upgrade the offense even with the trade deadline now behind them.
One logical option available is a reunion with a former slugger in the Bronx.
Luke Voit is available, and Aaron Boone definitely didn't shut down Yankees reunion
With Anthony Rizzo on the injured list, the media tossed out Luke Voit to Aaron Boone, a reunion that he didn't shut down. Here was the exchange, as relayed by NJ.com:
Before the Yankees' 4-3 win over the Astros on Thursday night, NJ Advance Media asked manager Aaron Boone if his club had interest in Voit.
His response was response was very interesting. Smiling from ear to ear, Boone answered, "We'll see, we'll see."
Hmmm.
When a group of media chuckled at how giddy Boone appeared to be, he chimed in again
"No, no, no! You misread that answer."
Did we?
Boone was asked a second time if the Yankees have any interest in signing Voit.
"I heard he opted out, but that really is the extent of it," Boone said.
How about this: Would Voit be a good fit on this Yankees team that has scored three or fewer runs in 45.3 percent of their games?
"I don't know," Boone said. "I haven't gotten that far into it."
Voit opted out of his minor league deal with the Mets this week presumably to pursue big-league options. He was batting well over 1.000 OPS and slugging .643 at AAA Syracuse in 37 games.
Skeptics might see Boone's comments as a nothingburger, but it's hard to deny the fit and opportunity for Cashman and New York. After all, wouldn't the Yankees be wise to pursue a reunion with a player who has proven he can hit under the pressure of the bright lights while wearing pinstripes, especially with how cheap Voit would come?
There are few reasons why the Yankees shouldn't at least explore the options with Voit's availability.
In his four years with the Yankees from 2018-2022, Voit slashed .271/.363/.520 with an OPS+ of 137. He hit 21 home runs in 2019 and 22 in 2020, which led MLB (shortened season).
At a certain point, deciding to not explore options like this to upgrade the offense has to be considered negligence.
