According to multiple reports, the New York Yankees are sending Luke Voit to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Justin Lange. The addition of Voit adds another first baseman and potential designated hitter to the mix for San Diego. Voit brings serious thump when healthy, but his numbers were down across the board in 2021. His OPS+ was 109, his lowest since joining the Yankees. He led the league in home runs during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Voit carried a 132 OPS+ during his time in New York.
Since they didn’t give up any major league talent in the deal, the question remains as to whether or not the team will go into the regular season with Eric Hosmer. Rumors have been swirling this spring about both Hosmer and right fielder Wil Myers. Hosmer is signed through 2025 and has averaged a WAR of 0.6 over the last three years. The Padres hold a team option for 2023 on Myers who has produced a WAR of 0.8 since 2019. Meanwhile, Voit has averaged a WAR of 1.1 per year over the same period. Voit might serve as a welcome addition to the competitive Padres roster already in place, or he may serve as a replacement for Hosmer.
Lange to Yankees
Former first round pick Justin Lange is headed to New York in the deal. The 34th overall pick in 2020 made nine appearances in Rookie League action, striking out 29 batters across 22 innings. The 20-year-old right hander was the third best pitching prospect in the Padres’ system and their eighth overall prospect. Some might argue that Voit is too valuable to move. But the recent re-signing of Anthony Rizzo made Voit expendable. Giancarlo Stanton is now slated to be the everyday designated hitter.
Main Photo:
Players Mentioned:
Luke Voit, Justin Lange, Eric Hosmer, Wil Myers, Anthony Rizzo
