New York Yankees finally find a taker for Luke Voit
The New York Yankees have been trying to find a taker for Luke Voit since the trade deadline last year. Their efforts had come for naught, as Voit was still on the roster despite their re-signing of Anthony Rizzo. Given the various holes on their roster, it was a matter of time before the Yankees sent their former first baseman somewhere else.
That time came on Friday. According to reports, Voit has been traded to the Padres for minor league pitcher Justin Lange.
New York Yankees get something back for Luke Voit
Voit had his moments in New York. There was a time when he seemed to be the answer at first base, a long term building block that would be a fixture in the middle of their lineup. That was especially the case in 2020, as Voit led the majors with 22 homers and was second in the American League with 52 RBI.
But then the 2021 season happened. Voit struggled with injuries and was not the same when he was on the diamond. He produced a .239/.328/.437 batting line with 11 homers in his 241 plate appearances. While he still posted an above average OPS+, the Yankees just could not trust him to stay healthy.
In exchange, the Yankees get an intriguing arm in Lange. The 34th overall selection in the 2020 MLB Draft struggled in his professional debut last year, posting a 6.95 ERA and a 1.500 WHiP in his 22 innings, striking out 29 batters with 15 walks. Even with those struggles, MLB.com had Lange ranked as the Padres’ eighth best prospect, citing his plus-plus fastball that can reach 100 MPH. While he is very raw and needs a great deal of development, Lange is the type of arm that teams would want to take a chance on.
Voit adds even more intrigue to the Padres’ roster. He likely slots in as their designated hitter at this juncture, but San Diego is desperately attempting to move Eric Hosmer. Should that happen, Voit provides a solid option at first base.
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The New York Yankees have finally found a taker for Luke Voit. He is heading to the San Diego Padres for pitching prospect Justin Lange.