In July of 2018, the Yankees weren’t getting too much production out of their first basemen, as Tyler Austin, Neil Walker, and Greg Bird all underwhelmed Yankees management over the season’s first four months. That’s when the Yankees’ rolled the dice by sending Giovanny Gallegos and Chasen Shreve to St. Louis for Luke Voit. Although Voit had lit up AAA pitching for the Memphis Redbirds in 2017, the then-27-year-old and former 22nd round draft pick was somewhat underwhelming himself in his limited time with the Cardinals over parts of the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
As it would turn out the Yankees gave up some value in Gallegos, but certainly received plenty in return as Voit went on to be a big-time hitter and a key contributor to some very good Yankees’ teams.