PEORIA, Ariz. — The Padres made a move Friday to get some much-needed punch in their lineup.
Luke Voit looks the part and, when healthy, has been among the better power hitters in the major leagues, and the Padres filled one of their most pressing needs Friday by acquiring him in a trade from the Yankees.
"We got another thumper on our squad, and he has playoff experience," Manny Machado said. "He's going to help us out big time."
Padres President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller entered the post-lockout transaction frenzy by consummating a trade for Voit, a designated hitter and first baseman who was limited to 68 games last season after spring knee surgery. Right-hander Justin Lange, a 20-year-old drafted 34th overall in 2020, was sent to the Yankees in return.
Since the start of 2018, Voit has averaged a home run every 14.46 at-bats. That ranks 12th in the major leagues in that span among players with at least 950 at-bats.
"We identified (adding power) as a priority," Preller said. "Obviously, we were looking to add some power to the offense and another quality bat and feel like we got one today."
Voit, 31, led the major leagues with 22 home runs in the COVID-19-shortened '20 season but had just 11 homers in 241 plate appearances last year. A right-handed hitter, he had surgery to repair a left meniscus tear in March and endured four stints on the injured list. The Yankees signed first baseman Anthony Rizzo on Monday, making it only a matter of time before Voit was traded.
"I knew something was going to happen over the last day or two," Voit told reporters in Florida, where the Yankees hold spring training. "I'm really excited. Not only a good organization, but they've got a team that's ready to win. ... I'm really happy. It's a new start for my career."
Preller and manager Bob Melvin said the plan is for Voit to be the Padres' designated hitter and get some time at first base against left-handed pitchers. The Padres have the left-handed Eric Hosmer at first, although the team has been open to trading him and a portion of the $59 million remaining on his contract.
Voit also has played right field, though not since 2018.
"I don't see that at this point," Melvin said. "We want to keep him healthy."
The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Voit was acquired for his ability on offense, as the Padres seek to improve on a .401 team slugging percentage that ranked 21st in the majors in 2021.
"He's had a great run in New York over the last four-plus years or so," said Preller, who discussed acquiring Voit at last year's trade deadline. "The knee issue came up. It sounds like very early in the process — he's only been (in spring training) for a week or so — but it he sounds like he's come in in good shape. He's lost a little bit of weight, and hopefully a year removed from the meniscus surgery he's ready to go have a big year."
The Padres will be without reigning National League home run leader Fernando Tatis Jr. for at least the first two months of the season following this week's wrist surgery, which created even more of a need for offense.
"Oh man," Machado said. "That's definitely going to help, especially with Tati down. … This is one step closer to our goal."
Said Hosmer: "It's an elite bat. ... Any time you add a bat like that to your lineup, it's a good day."
Melvin and Preller spoke with Hosmer before the trade was announced.
"All in," Melvin said of Hosmer's reaction.
"I love it," Hosmer said. "I'm all about it. I want to win. That's been my goal since Day 1. I'll do anything to help the team win."
Voit has had more than 241 plate appearances in only one season. That was in 2019, when he hit .263/.378/.464 with 21 home runs and 21 doubles in 510 plate appearances. He missed 29 games in August of that year with a sports hernia injury.
He made his big-league debut in for the Cardinals in 2017 and was traded to the Yankees at the deadline in 2018 for Giovanny Gallegos and Chasen Shreve.
The move likely adds about $5 million to the Padres' payroll, as that is what Voit is projected to command in his first year of arbitration. They stand about $10 million under the first competitive balance tax threshold that would require them to pay a 30 percent tax on the amount by which they exceed that $230 million mark.
Right-hander Michel Baez, who is targeting a midsummer return from Tommy John surgery, was placed on the 60-day injured list to make room for Voit on the 40-man roster.
The team is still in need of a starting corner outfielder.
"So far, the first week or so of this post-lockout offseason, there have been some things that we could do that we chose not to do, some things that we were close on that that ultimately just didn't line up," Preller said. "We're going to keep looking to improve our team, continue to look at the offense and also the pitching staff. We'll see what we'll presents itself in the in the next couple of weeks."
