The Yankees acquired Chase Headley from the Padres:
The Yankees acquired Headley in exchange for INF Yangervis Solarte and RHP Rafael De Paula. The Padres also sent $1 million in cash to New York to offset some of Headley’s salary.
The Padres 3B was due to become a free agent after the season. Recently Interim GM A.J. Hinch mentioned that the Padres could hold on to Headley and then make him a qualifying offer after the season. The qualifying offer would be a 1 year contract offer in excess of $14 million that if turned down would guarantee the Padres a first round draft pick. What that means is that Headley’s trade value needed to exceed that of a 2015 first round draft pick. Getting these two young players in return did that for the club in Hinch’s mind.
Headley did a great job of getting on base in 2011 and 2012, right at his seasonal age 27-28 peak. That peak rose quickly and fell off quickly, and Headley was playing poorly this season, which hurt his trade value. It was even the tough PETCO Park, as Headley hit worse on the road. Maybe the change of scenery will do him good, but they’re not getting a great hitter.
He is still a very good fielding third baseman, however, and that should help a Yankees staff weakened by injury.
Solarte is hardly a prospect at 26. He just steps into Headley’s slot. De Paula strikes out a ton of batters, but he is 23 years old pitching at A ball. I don’t care how the Padres spin this, they just dumped Headley for next to nothing.
Update: The Yankees believe Headley is recovering from an injury that limited his hitting:
In the video above, Cashman explains why the Yankees believe Headley could be much better than his .229/.296/.355 slash line. Basically, Headley received an epidural injection in late June to help deal with a back issue, and his production has significantly improved ever since. Joe Girardi made it clear that he thinks of Headley as his everyday third baseman going forward.
Headley is hitting better in July, but hasn’t drawn a walk, so his OBP still isn’t great.