A self-proclaimed "National Leaguer at heart," Jack Clark says his return as part of a five-player trade between the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres will improve his play. "It feels good. It feels like where I'm supposed to be," Clark said Monday after learning he and left-handed pitcher Pat Clements had been sent to San Diegofor reserve outfielder Stan Jefferson and right-handed pitchers Jimmy Jones and Lance McCullers.
In Clark, the Padres gain the power hitter they were seeking to shore up an offense that ranked near the bottom of the league in home runs last season with 94.
The Yankees, meanwhile, acquired a speedster in Jefferson, a power reliever in McCullers and the Padres' top pick in the June 1982 free agent draft in Jones.
Clark, 32, played 150 games for the Yankees, most as a designated hitter, batting .242 with 27 homers and 93 runs batted in. He came to the Yankees as a free agent before last season after three years with the St. Louis, where he played on the Cardinals' 1985 and 1987 National League championship teams.