Luke Voit felt that his time with the Yankees was coming to an end after New York brought back Anthony Rizzo.
“I knew something was going to happen in the last day or two,” Voit said Friday after being traded to the San Diego Padres for 20-year-old right-hander Justin Lange, the 34th overall pick in the 2020 amateur draft.
Voit, a 31-year-old right-handed hitter with power, led the big leagues with 22 home runs during the pandemic shortened 2020 season, when he hit .277 with 52 RBIs.
“Really excited,” Voit said as he left Bradenton, where the Yankees played their showdown against Pittsburgh.
“Not only is it a good organization, but they have a team ready to win. I’m super excited to be playing one of my teammates, Pierce Johnson.”
Voit made four trips to the injured list last year, three stints due to a left knee that was operated on March 29 to repair a torn meniscus: March 31 to May 11 during recovery, then July 16. until August 8 and Sept. 30. the postseason due to inflammation. He was also on the IL from May 27 to June 22 with a strained right oblique.
“It’s a good thing for my career, a kind of fresh start with a new team,” Voit said. “I want to thank the Yankees for bringing me here to give me a chance to play. I was a bit in St. I loved the fan base, loved the pitfalls. I wish all the guys good luck. , and I’m excited about a bright future.
Voit hit .239 with 11 homers and 35 RBIs in 68 games with the Yankees last season, including five home runs in the eighth inning or later. New York acquired Rizzo from the Chicago Cubs before the trade deadline, in search of a left-hand-hitting first baseman. Rizzo became a free agent, then concluded a $ 32 million, two-year deal on Thursday.
“I think for him it might be a bittersweet,” Rizzo said after working at Steinbrenner Field. ” He had a good time here, the fans love him. We got along really well. We were hanging out on the pitch, we were hanging out while playing, we were hanging out in the clubhouse, so it was a good time.
Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge said it was a difficult situation.
“He went up for us in a big way in 2018 when we got him,” the judge said. “He came in and just from the first whole game he was productive and changed that lineup, that changed team. It’s hard to see him going, but I’m excited for his opportunity with the Padres.”
“Luke, he brings energy every single day,” Judge added. “Whether it was a day game, night game, we’re on a losing track, winning track, he was the same guy. Always played with heart, played with passion. Luke, I feel like, represents a bit the New York spirit.
Lange was 0-3 with a 6.95 ERA in nine starts last season for rookie-level Arizona Complex League Padres, hitting 29 and going 15 and 22 innings. To clear a spot on the list, San Diego put right-hander Michel Baez on the 60-day injured list.
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