The New York Yankees acquired third baseman Chase Headley and cash considerations from the San Diego Padres on Tuesday in exchange for infielder Yangervis Solarte and right-hander Rafael De Paula.
Chase Headley is headed to the Yankees. (Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports)
The 30-year-old Headley, a switch hitter, is scheduled to become a free agent after the season. The Padres agreed to pay $1 million of the remaining $3.968 million on Headley’s $10.525 million contract this year.
Headley has not reached the production level he achieved two years ago when he hit 31 home runs, led the National League with 115 RBIs in 161 games, finished fifth in the league’s Most Valuable Player balloting and won Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards for the Padres.
This year, he has battled injuries and is batting .229 with seven home runs and 32 RBIs in 77 games. But his bat started to warm up this month. Since July 4, he is hitting .339 with one homer and eight RBIs in 13 games.
In 908 career career games for the Padres, Headley batted .266 with 87 home runs and 401 RBIs. The versatile Headley also has played left field and first base.
Headley’s .965 career fielding percentage at third base is third best among active major leaguers behind only Eric Chavez (.970) and Evan Longoria (.966).
The 27-year-old Solarte, who signed as a minor league free agent on Jan. 16, saw his first major league action this season with the Yankees, batting .254 with six home runs and 31 RBIs in 75 games
The 23-year-old De Paula was 6-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 20 games, including 17 starts, for Class A Tampa this year.
