May 1, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Chase Headley (7) hits a home run against the Chicago Cubs during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Cubs beat the Padres 6-2. Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
Padres third baseman Chase Headley “loves” San Diego and is happy to hear that the team loves him back.
He just plans to wait until the offseason to discuss a contract extension.
“We made it abundantly clear [before] that we didn’t want to talk about it during the season,” Headley told MLB.com on Thursday. “I didn’t think that for me and for the team that it was good to get caught up with all of this during the season.”
On Wednesday, Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler said he gave general manager Josh Byrnes permission to start talks on a long-term deal to make Headley the “highest-paid player in club history.”
Headley can’t leave until after the 2014 season. He’s coming off a year in which he finished fifth in the National League MVP Award voting.
Headley is making $8.75 million this year and is the second-highest-paid player on the team behind left fielder Carlos Quentin ($9.5 million).
A report in Wednesday’s U-T San Diego said the Padres would make a multiyear offer before midseason. Headley doesn’t want to discuss the matter.
“It’s flattering they feel the way they feel about me,” Headley told MLB.com. “I love playing in San Diego, I love the fans. But I just don’t think now is the time to get involved with this. That’s it. If there’s an opportunity to engage after the season, so be it. I didn’t want to have to deal with the fallout I’m dealing with.”
A switch-hitter, Headley is hitting .280 with three home runs and six RBIs in 13 games.
