Chase Headley, Veteran 3B, Now A Yankee After Trade


Chase Headley has been traded by the San Diego Padres to the New York Yankees for rookie infielder Yangervis Solarte and minor league pitcher Rafael De Paula. The Padres have also committed $1 million is cash to the Yankees, who look to upgrade their infield with the veteran third baseman Headley.

The trade comes just three days after the Padres traded away reliever Huston Street to the Los Angeles Angels for a handful of players in a six man deal. While it’s obvious that the Padres are selling, the Yankees seem to be buying. Headley, who, according to report on ESPN, is hitting.323 in July, looks to help a Yankee offense batting only.252 as a team.

Chase Headley got off to a slow start in 2014, batting only.229 with 32 RBIs, and has been hampered by a herniated disc in his back that has limited his play to only 77 games, but since July 4, his average is well above.350. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman hopes that Headley will help the Yankees as they make a push in the crowded–and wide-open–American League East. As Cashman told MLB.com:

“I think he’s a professional hitter and a switch-hitter that can spray it all over the place, and that’s what he’s been doing,” Cashman said. “I don’t think we’re getting a big thumper, but I do think we’re getting an upgrade and a professional at-bat.”

Headley, 30, who will be a free agent at the end of the year, is most likely only a Yankee for the rest of this season, as Alex Rodriguez is expected back from his year-long drug suspension in 2015, as previously reported in The Inquisitr.

The Yankees had found some production out of Solarte early in the season, but his production fell off considerably and he was demoted to the minors earlier this month. Cashman explained the loss of the young Solarte.

“He really saved our bacon early this year,” Cashman said. “When we had a lot of other issues going on this year, he stepped up, and for that we’re thankful. But he was a player that had to be in this situation to get Chase Headley back.”

Chase Headley had been the longest tenured Padre, but that’s the life of a Major League Baseball player. Headley reported to the Yankees earlier today and got into tonight’s game with the Texas Rangers. He came into game in the eighth inning and struck out. The game went into extra innings and Headley grounded out in the 11th and 12th innings, the latter coming with bases loaded.

Chase Headley could produce for the Yankees as early as tomorrow in his first full game in the famed pinstripes.

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