Soto pumped to join Padres lineup: 'Good luck to all the pitchers'

Juan Soto is excited to join the San Diego Padres and he already feels bad for opposing pitchers who have to face the team's new lineup.

"It's going to be really tough to go through," Soto said, according to MLB.com's AJ Cassavell. "I wish good luck to all the pitchers."

Soto and slugging first baseman Josh Bell were officially introduced at a press conference on Wednesday after they were acquired in an eight-player blockbuster before Tuesday's deadline.

The pair join a dangerous Padres lineup that already features NL MVP contender Manny Machado and is awaiting the return of electric shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr..

Padres projected lineup when Tatis returns

Padres ace Joe Musgrove was asked on Tuesday how he would navigate San Diego's lineup if he had to face Tatis, Soto, and Machado in consecutive at-bats.

"Walk them all," Musgrove joked. "Deal with the next guy. Load the bases and try to get three in a row."

Soto joins the Padres after an impressive five-year stint with the Nationals, where he slashed .291/.427/.538 with 119 home runs, 358 RBIs, and 464 walks in 565 games. The 23-year-old has already won a batting title and finished top 10 in MVP voting three times.

Meanwhile, Bell brings serious pop to San Diego. The 29-year-old Texan has 127 career homers and owns an .824 OPS in seven seasons.