Luke Voit’s unforeseen DFA shakes up his time with the Brewers

Multiple reports indicate that the Milwaukee Brewers have designated Luke Voit for assignment on Monday. This decision comes after Luke Voit struggled with a .221 batting average and a .548 OPS in 22 games during the current season.’

Luke Voit failed to hit any home runs during his time with the Brewers, which was one of his notable contributions during his four-season stint with the Yankees.

During the abbreviated 2020 season, Luke Voit emerged as the home run leader in the MLB, smashing an impressive 22 homers. Throughout his tenure in the Bronx, which began in 2018 following a trade from the Cardinals, he accumulated a total of 68 home runs.

The designation for assignment (DFA) of Luke Voit adds to the growing list of former Yankees players who were once considered integral pieces in the team’s pursuit of championships.

Last week, the Mets made the decision to designate catcher Gary Sanchez for assignment (DFA) after his unsuccessful attempt to secure a major league contract with the Giants following his minor league opportunity.

In a similar fashion, Clint Frazier is currently striving to make a comeback to the major leagues, now pursuing his career with the White Sox organization. Additionally, center fielder Aaron Hicks was released outright by the Yankees last Friday.

Unless he accepts a demotion to the minors, Luke, aged 32, will be joining his fourth club in as many seasons. For pitching prospect Justin Lange, the Yankees sent him to the Padres in March of 2022.

Luke Voit’s time in the 2022 season began with him appearing in 82 games for the San Diego Padres. However, he was subsequently involved in a trade with the Washington Nationals, where All-Star Juan Soto was sent to the Padres in exchange for a combination of prospects and experienced players. During his tenure with the Nationals, Luke Voit showcased his power by hitting nine home runs and contributing 21 RBIs in 53 games.

After initially signing a minor league contract with the Brewers in February, Luke Voit made the decision to opt out of that agreement. Instead, he pursued a one-year contract that included a club option for the 2024 season, thanks to his impressive performance during spring training.

Luke Voit expressed his appreciation for the opportunity during an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in March. He mentioned his decision to adjust the opt-out date, stating that having the early opt-out clause allowed for potential opportunities in case of injuries or other openings within the team. Luke Voit acknowledged that the early opt-out served as a way to put pressure on the team while also benefiting both parties involved.

According to Luke Voit’s comments to the Journal Sentinel, he expressed his confidence in his performance during spring training, describing himself as “raking right now.” However, he acknowledged that his success during the preseason did not carry over to the regular season.

During his time playing first base in 11 games and also serving as the designated hitter, Luke Voit experienced a high number of strikeouts, totaling 27 out of his 68 at-bats.

Following his placement on the 10-day injured list with a neck strain on May 15, the Brewers initiated Voit’s recovery process by assigning him to Triple-A Nashville for a rehab assignment five days later.

After participating in eight games with the Sounds, Luke Voit’s performance stood out on Sunday night, just a day before the Brewers made their decision regarding his future with the team. During that game, he went 3-for-5 at the plate, including a double, and contributed three RBIs.

Luke Voit’s recent performance showcased his ability to drive in runs, as he recorded three RBIs for the second time in three games. It’s worth noting that he had a slow start to his rehab assignment, going hitless in his first seven at-bats.

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