First baseman Luke Voit, who’d been with the Mets on a minor league contract, has exercised an out clause in his deal, tweets Mike Mayer of Metsmerized. Opt-out dates in minor league deals, once triggered, typically give the team 48 hours to either select the player’s contract or release him. Mayer specifies that Voit has already been granted his release and is once again a free agent.
Voit, 32, had a dismal showing with the Brewers earlier this season, batting just .221/.284/.265 — albeit in a tiny sample of 74 trips to the plate. He’s been nothing short of outstanding with the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse since signing there, slashing a hefty .264/.415/.643 (155 wRC+) with 14 home runs and a massive 18.9% walk rate in 167 plate appearances. Voit has fanned at a 26.8% clip in Syracuse, which is a clear red flag, but punchouts have always been part of the slugger’s profile, even during his peak years with the Yankees.
That peak, while brief, was excellent. From 2018-20, Voit tallied 892 plate appearances with the Yankees and batted .279/.372/.543 with 57 home runs — including an MLB-leading 22 round-trippers during the shortened 2020 season. His 2021 season was ruined by injuries. A meniscus tear in his left knee during spring training eventually required surgery. He returned in mid-May but made it just two weeks before suffering a Grade 2 oblique strain. Voit raced back from that injury in far quicker fashion than most who suffer an oblique strain of that severity, and within three weeks he was back on the shelf with inflammation in his surgically repaired knee. He returned from the IL once again but was placed back on the shelf in September — again due to knee pain.
Since the end of that outstanding 2020 season, Voit has taken 883 plate appearances — nearly identical to his tally during that three-year peak — and batted .229/.311/.399 (100 wRC+). While he was prone to strikeouts earlier in his career, his 31.7% mark from 2021-23 is considerably higher than the 26.2% clip he posted from 2017-20.
Other clubs will now have to determine whether Voit’s production in Syracuse marks a legitimate improvement in his approach and contact abilities or whether it’s merely some small-sample success against lower-caliber pitching. Someone will surely give him a look, however, even if it’s only on another minor league deal at first. With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, there are very few paths to acquiring additional talent and depth to prepare for a postseason push. Voit’s performance in Syracuse and track record of past performance will get him another opportunity.
Sumone lacking pop will pick him up and look for lightning in a bottle.
Remember when people thought guys like this would find jobs if mlb added a 26 man and added the DH. It’s weird teams valued position flexibility and defence and still do…
He hit 221 for Brewers not like he was tearing the roof off the place and no power. He has hit well for Mets 3A but Pete plays first not sure who they DH on regular so may not be any room for him. I don’t think teams really want to waste a space on bench for a guy who is only a backup first and DH you still need that infielder off bench you can play 3 to 4 spots, of course a 2nd catcher and back up outfielder who can play all 3 positions. Then the 4th guy can be someone who either is infielder or outfield or little of both.
If he can’t make the Mets roster then he might have to consider the Mexican league or perhaps move to Cuba etc. Though his 2023 batting average is higher than the current Mets starter at 1B…
Cuba? Do many American players go and play in Cuba?
DFA Vogelbach! Voit since day 1 would have been a better option! Now that is no longer an option BRING BACK CESPEDES!!!!
Phils should take a shot. I never thought I’d say this, but they have absolutely zero pop.
“From 2018-20, Voit tallied 892 plate appearances with the Mets and batted .279/.372/.543 with 57 home runs”
That should be the Yankees, not the Mets.
Jake Cave has some terrible numbers, it really would not hurt to give Voit a shot. Who knows he might even start popping off homeruns even if his batting average and OBP aren’t great. Something like Jake Burger, I’m sure you’d prefer Voit putting up numbers similar to Burger, he’d a dramatic improvement over whatever your 1B options output has been.
Dude thinks he’s better than he is.
Would you prefer he not have self confidence? Most ballplayers do, it’s preferred.
This guy expects to have a Major League job, but when given a Major League job, does not perform to Major League standards. The cycle continues.
I find your lack of faith disturbing.
How dare he opt out? Clearly, he should just accept sitting in the minor leagues (where he’s destroying AAA) so he can atone for accepting a MiLB deal with the Metropolitans in the first place.
He should not have the audacity to see if a team in the playoff hunt needs his skills, the bloody peasant!!!!
Voit is striking out 34% of the time in the minors. He is not destroying it. He is Joey Gallo’ing it.
Opt out and see if some team will pick him up. Enjoy Oakland or Colorado.
As per the article and a quick peek at Baseball Reference 26.8%.
164 plate appearances, 44 strikeouts, math works out.
You’re looking at his MLB stats with the Brewers from early in the season.
74 plate appearances, 27 strikeouts, 36.5% K rate.
Pads Fan a day in the bigs playing for Oakland is better than any minor league team.
Oakland is great compared to Syracuse
Oakland or Colorado is way better than Syracuse.
@Keane, Coors Field is actually a really nice venue. It’s a fun atmosphere even when the Rockies are playing poorly, Denver weather is great and the city is, too. Plus, the toilets don’t back up like the Coliseum.
If I was a baseball player out of playoff contention, I’d pick the Rockies over a dozen other places.
Fascinating arc to his career. Similar to Gary Sanchez in some ways
Interestingly, this prompted me to check in on Sanchez. Doing pretty well for the Padres with a wRC+ 110 overall line and wRC+ 120 since June. Can’t get on base to save his life though. Home run or nothing!
118 OPS+ for the Padres. A HR every 12 at bats.
This guy let a fluky 2020 “MVP” campaign get to his head, and hasn’t moved on from that since.
@Reynaldo…2020 never happened stat wise….short season, minor league players, COVID game/series cancels, multiple players same team out two weeks etc…
Cashman, bring Luke back to the Bronx. The Yankees are in need of another low average, high strikeout hitter who occasionally hits a HR.
Dont give him any ideas
Careful what you wish for. Cashman didn’t exactly light up the trade deadline so this wouldn’t be such an out of nowhere move for him.
Now Rizzo is on the IL….uh oh
Better than seeing DJ at first this season.
DJ is washed unfortunately. Big fan of his but he just doesn’t have it anymore. Father time remains undefeated.
Another firable offense for Eppler. Voit is walking, homering, and driving in runs at a historic clip, yet we keep a human beer barrel with the worst slugging percentage and batting average of any DH I’ve ever heard of in the regular lineup.
Matt Carpenter enters the chat
Carpenter being in the chat is why Preller went out and got Garrett Cooper and Ji-Man Choi
That is exactly why. You don’t have to be even a MLB average hitter to be a huge amount better than Carpenter has been this season.
Vogelbach is not even in the bottom 5 for a DH in OPS+, wRC+, or even in BA
2015 entered the chat, just to check and see if “entered the chat” was still being used at a historic clip, along with “entered the chat’s” sibling, “hold my beer”
2014 enters the chat…”cool, we get to say ‘enters the chat’ next year!!
If I recall correctly, Voit is right handed and Vogey is left handed. That said I find it hard to believe his bat wasn’t called upon to replace either Pham or Canha.
At his best with the platoon splits, Voit is no more than a league average hitter. Vogelbach has not been good, but he has been league average as a DH. Just don’t put him at 1B or let him PH.
He is a FA after this season and the Mets should find no trouble filling his spot in the lineup.
Voit was just not the guy to do it. Letting him walk takes the $12 million team option off the table for 2024 and saves the Mets a few hundred thousand this season.
@Pads Fans – this year has been ROUGH for a lot of RH hitters, haha. League average sounds pretty good to a lot of teams these days LOL
Because there is no point taking at bats from Vientos now.
Difference is Canha played all 3 OF spots plus the Infield corners and Pham could at least play the OF corners. Voit can only play First Base and arguably not very well
Release Vogelbach and bring in Voit! Vogelbach is dead weight
OH NO! But, But we were going to remake the team around the core of Voit & Vogelslug! Now who’s going to rock that open button uni?
lolmets
could easily sign Voit to a 2-year deal for $6 million and flip him for a prospect next trade deadline.
Not really. There’s a reason Voit had to settle for a minor league deal with the Brewers and win a job in training camp and then settle for another minor league deal after the Brewers released him
@texas
Lmao, good one
I’m surprised the Mets didn’t call him up after trading Canha and Pham. Keith Hernandez mentioned during the broadcast the other night that Buck Showalter told him they had ten players in the hotel with the team as a contingency depending upon how many players were traded. It’s hard to believe he was kept in Syracuse at that point. Obviously, they needed players to play that game but he had been hot in Syracuse. There could be a de facto trade if he signs with the Twins and Keuchel signs with the Mets after both opted out.
What use does he have for the Mets right now? At this point, their main focus is on giving experience to and evaluating young players and fringe players [to see] who might actually be a part of the equation next year. There was no position for Voit to play, and at-bats would have been wasted on him.
go to oakland with their 1B out right now and just get some at bats to prove yourself
Colorado just traded Cron. He’d be a decent platoon with Toglia, who isn’t hitting LH pitching.
If Voit is smart he goes to the team that gives him the most at bats not the most money or playoff shot.
Voit is 10x the player Vogelfat is. I see Vogelfat on the bench everyday brownnosing Showalter. Thats why hes still on the team. Hes a teachers pet. He should switch careers from major league baseball to major league eating. I can see him giving Chestnut a run for his money
Teacher’s pet? WTH are you talking about. Its major league baseball, managers don’t make those decisions, and Vogelbach is hitting league average as a DH while Voit is in the minors.
Voit is striking out 34% of the time against minor league pitching. How do you think that translates. 40% in the majors? 45%?
@Pads Fans you literally don’t know anything. The fact is, Vogelfat is put up agaisnt only righties, his most favorable outcome, and is “batting league average”. First off, if you are a full time DH, you need to be batting better than league average. Second off, you need to be able to hit both lefties and righties as a DH, a DH’s position is to HIT. Lastly, he can’t play defense/has no position, can’t run at all, doesn’t have much power, etc. Next time you try and use these fancy stats you seem to be so proud of, look at the bigger picture instead. A catcher hitting league average is valuable, a shortstop hitting league average is valuable, a firstbaseman and a full time DH hitting league average is NOT valuable
Would love to see Voit and Vogelbach run a race. I’ll take the tortoise.
that comment made me laugh so hard coffee came out of my nose. I was drinking tea at the time.
Voit should go back to making footballs and basketballs.
Pretty sure DH’s are supposed to hit home runs, not bat for average
I actually laughed out loud at this
No doubt Voit should have been immediately placed on the major league roster and vogelbach sent packing. Big mistake the Mets made there. But the best option of all would have been avoiding vogelbach entirely last year – they should have and still should – BRING BACK CESPEDES!!!!!
You know you suck when the brewers release you as they are thrilled with anyone who can hit above .200
Why didn’t the Mets ever bring Voit up if they always said that there’s no power behind Alonso ?
Alvarez has the highest hr rate in the majors per at bat.
Screwdriver/ hammer/ wrench….. a real tool..
Can’t wait to see which team signs him only to see him suddenly turn into a pumpkin and hit 162/220/318 against MLB pitching whilst playing no field position whatsoever.
Not saying it will, but its not impossible for him to have found a flaw and corrected it. Trayce Thompson had a good year in LA. Ryan O’Brien has suddenly produced in Baltimore, as has Aaron Hicks.
Certainly and don’t get me wrong I’m not rooting against him I just think that the player profile has been established and at his age it seems unlikely he’d have a renaissance
Why would any team want a 32 year old one dimensional player taking up roster space? Maybe for AAA just so that infielders throws don’t end up caroming off the first base side wall and into right field as a warm body, but that right there would be the only purpose for any team to sign Voit. Let Mark Vientos sink or swim having any and all the at bats anyone could imagine Voit getting.
Cleveland actually makes sense for him, at least to try and finish out the year.
Seattle should get him so he can be with Mike Ford.
Give the Honky Tonk Man a shot!
He has to go back to the Yankees to play first. Rizzo has a concussion.
Nothing to lose.
Brian Cashman on line one, Cashman on line one.
Dodgers should pick him up while JD is sidelined.
Can you blame anyone for not wanting to play for the Mets this year?
Reminds me of Vogelbach