Luke Voit rejoins Mets: Where does he fit in the plans for 2024?
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Mets front office is loading up on veteran first basemen this spring.
A little more than two days after inking Ji-man Choi to a minor league deal, the Mets brought in Luke Voit on a similar deal ahead of the first full-squad spring training workout on Monday morning.
Voit is getting his second chance with the Mets after spending nearly two months of the 2023 season in Triple-A Syracuse, where he slashed .264/.415/.643 with 14 home runs, 35 RBI and 30 runs before deciding to opt out of his deal with a big league call-up unlikely on Aug. 3.
"I didn’t know what else I really had to do in Triple-A," Voit said. "I understand at that point they were selling and they wanted to play all their young guys. It’s a business and that’s what a lot of other teams kind of said too when I opted out.
"I got to be home with my family, I’ve got two little kids now so it was a little bit of blessing to be home with my wife, but I’m a baseball player and I want to be back on the diamond."
The 33-year-old began his seventh major-league season with the Brewers in 2023 but was designated for assignment in late May after posting a .549 OPS with no home runs, three doubles, five runs and four RBI in 22 games. He joined Triple-A Syracuse on June 12 and saw an opportunity to play every day and fix bad habits that had been brought on by an injury-ravaged 2021 campaign with the Yankees.
Voit spent part of four seasons with the Yankees, including 2020's COVID-shortened campaign when he led the league with 22 home runs and finished ninth in American League MVP voting.
"I obviously had my foot in the door a little bit last year with the team," Voit said. "I’m excited about the opportunity, obviously got to play with some of these guys and played against a lot of these guys. I had Mendy as a coach for four years in New York, so it’s a comfortable spot and I feel like physically, mentally, I’m in a really good spot right now.
Choi joined the fray late Friday night after an injury-riddled 2023 campaign, where he bounced between the Pirates, Padres and minor leagues. Choi began the season with the Pirates where he had to be placed on the 60-day injured list with a Lisfranc injury before being traded to the Padres at the deadline.
In 39 major-league games last season, Choi slashed .163/.239/.385 with six home runs, 13 RBI and 12 runs.
The Mets' first-base depth chart includes Pete Alonso, who is entering a contract year, and Mark Vientos. JT Schwartz boasted an .820 OPS with 17 doubles, four home runs, 49 RBI and 30 runs in 66 games with Double-A Binghamton.
Voit is hoping that he can force his way into the discussion at designated hitter or backup first base with strong performance this spring.
"I’ve had to win jobs before," Voit said. "It all started when I was back with St. Louis and then I had to do the same stuff against Greg Bird when I was in New York. I’m up for a competition. I’m just worried about myself at the end of the day and obviously the goal is to make the team."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets sign Luke Voit to minor league deal; where does he fit?
