Voit wants to play 1B for Yankees: 'If not, I'll go somewhere else'

Luke Voit is seemingly handing an ultimatum to the New York Yankees: Play him at first base or trade him.

"I want to play first base for the Yankees," Voit said, according to the New York Post's Dan Martin. "If that happens, great. If not, I'll go somewhere else."

Voit began the 2021 campaign as the Yankees' starting first baseman after a tremendous 2020 campaign in which he led MLB in home runs and posted a .948 OPS in 56 games.

Knee and oblique issues caused Voit to miss several games last season, prompting the Yankees to trade for Anthony Rizzo in July. Rizzo received most of the starting reps at first base for New York down the stretch, with Voit shifting to the bench.

With Rizzo entering free agency, there's an opportunity for Voit to reclaim his starting job, and he believes he will.

"I expect to," Voit said. "I'm the only first baseman on the depth chart right now."

Despite Voit's eagerness to start, the Yankees have made acquiring a first baseman a priority this offseason. The club is reportedly interested in re-signing Rizzo and has also been connected to Matt Olson of the Oakland Athletics.

Voit, who was nearly traded last summer, was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018. The 30-year-old owns a .271/.363/.520 slash line with 68 homers and 182 RBIs in 281 games for the Bronx Bombers.