The Padres are getting calls on third baseman Chase Headley, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. San Diego will listen to offers but it will require "a lot" to part with him.
The 28-year-old Headley has hit .269/.373/.415 with seven homers and eight steals this season. The switch-hitter quietly owns a career .300/.366/.444 batting line away from Petco Park and his defense at the hot corner is well-regarded. FanGraphs says he's been the 13th most valuable position player in baseball this season at 3.0 wins above replacement, or WAR.
Headley will earn $3.475MM this season, his second as an arbitration-eligible player. Since he's a Super Two, he still has two more years of team control remaining before becoming eligible for free agency after the 2014 season.
dodgers should get headley
That’d be awesome, but pretty sure San Diego would want a king’s ransom to trade him to a division rival.
Bills withrow sands? Or maybe de jesus
I know Orioles aren’t willing to trade Machado, but Headley would be a perfect addition to that team…
Is too late to trade him for Youkilis?
I think Headley for the Orioles Chris Tillman and another prospect would be good.
not only will they probably not trade machado, he is way too much for Headley. Im a big Headley fan but, come on.
Orioles may have the prospects to get Headley, even without Machado and Bundy. Schoop, Esposito, Arrieta, Matusz, Tillman, are all attractive names to different degrees.
I think Avery can go on that list too.
as a Padre fan, I would like to see Matusz or Arrieta come back. Think they would really shine here.
One of those two would be the cornerpiece to a deal.
If I’m the Os I’d trade Matusz. Matusz is a flyball pitcher and would be perfect for your stadium. Arrieta… not so much. Of course, he isn’t enough by himself but he’s a good start.
Chase is Buccaneer bound…
Meh. The Pirates need a corner outfielder more than a corner infielder right now. If they can get him without having to give up too much, fine. Otherwise, no thanks.
Headley has a .739 OPS in June. Jones has a .856 OPS in June. McGehee has a .874 OPS in June. Pedro has a .929 OPS in June. Not worth giving away a good prospect for that.
because the first 24 days of June 2012 are the end all be all…
Never said they were. Just saying the Pirates already have players at Headley’s position that are playing better right now. No real need to throw away top prospects for a player you don’t really need. Not that difficult of a concept, really.
I’d be super-pissed if my team gave up “a lot” to get Chase Headley. Especially if his agent uses WAR to argue his salary demands in arbitration over the next two years.
We’d rather talk about things like RBI’s, runs scored, and grit! That’s what makes a good player!
Grit? I thought that stat retired along with Aaron Miles…
Chase cant get any RBIS if he doesnt have anybody on base to hit in!
Twist words much? I never said WAR doesn’t have its place, but if you’re going to tell me that Headley is even a top 25 position player, I’ll be happy to laugh in your face!
Just check out his career numbers away from Petco. Or are home/road splits too fancy?
All I’m saying is I’m not going to give up “a lot” and get the privilege of paying Chase through what will likely be expensive arbitration prices for the next two years. “A lot” is too much for that. IF he were pre-arb, you would definitely get more.
I don’t know, you’re probably right about that.. but he’s an interesting player, that’s for sure.
Yeah, he’s never hit for a terrific average, but he’s never hit for a bad average either [.262 lowest he’s posted in any meaningful sample size]. He’s a patient hitter who has seen his walk rate spike the last two years in his age 27 and 28 seasons, so it seems pretty clear he’s getting better right now.
His doubles numbers are right around 30 pretty consistently [even in 2011 when he hit a career best .289 and only played 113 games] and his strikeout numbers aren’t crazy. He doesn’t have a very pronounced platoon split, either, so he’s a true switch hitter. His biggest issue seems to be a low slugging percentage — and judging by the away splits [.300/.366/.444] and his aforementioned doubles totals, it can safely be pinned on the home run totals, which one would think would improve outside of Petco.
The two years he played a full season the guy still managed to crack double digit homers, and his hit totals are very respectable. He’s a good defender over at 3B, too.
It’s good that they’ll listen and not just hang up, all rude about it.
It’s obvious that Headley will be traded by the deadline if not sooner. Why else would they move Gyorko back to 3rd base?Anybody willing to give up alot for Headley should remember that the Padres are looking for ML ready pitching with all the injuries this year.Pirates would be a great fit if they are willing to give up Karstens, Leroux and a top prospect or two.Not necisarily the “UNtouchables”.
Jeff Karstens, Justin Wilson, Robbie Grossman, and Gorkys Hernandez should be enough for Headley.
El-oh-el
I would NEVER give away that much for Headley
With Gyorko near ready to take over, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Headley go.
Something tells me the Angels will be big players for this guy. They could trade some prospects + Callaspo for him. Maybe.
Izturis Hellweg and Conger. Make it rain DiPoto
no thanks. We already have players like the three you listed.
Callaspo and Bourjos
We wouldnt want Callaspo. I would be really suprised if there was a 3baseman included in the deal knowing that Gyorko is knocking on the door ready to be called up. Byrnes wouldnt even be thinking about trading Headley if he didnt have a replacement for him ready. Remember, he might want to impress the new owner to keep his job. The Padres are most likely looking for ML ready pitching prospects in that deal.
Richards and Arm for Headley
Richards,Hellweg,Pena for Headley Might make Byrnes pull the trigger.
A bit steep. I dont think we would give 3 top arms.
Well if I remeber correctly, Josh Byrnes has MLB TR as either his screen saver or as his home page on his computer.
Anyway, I would be interested in Headley and after watching Volquez pitch a real solid game against the M’s ( he’s been solid in 5 of 7 of his last starts). However, I would not trade Tillman. I would trade Arrieta and some prospects to get them. However, I wonder if we can make a run to the playoffs with our current team and depth in the minors.
They’ve both shown flashes at the majors but have largely struggled. Jake has the better raw stuff, right? So why Chris, age?
Jake definitely has better stuff, Tillman’s fastball is low 90s at it’s best and seems kind of straight to me. He does have that beautiful curveball though
Doesn’t Theo’s team need a 3B??? Who do the Cubs have SD could use??
Now, why would the Cubs give up young talent to haul in talent that will not be able to lead the anywhere???
Theo’s team is rebuilding — selling, not buying.
as a poster says below, hedley is “not too expensive, has years of control, plays great defense, and is very underrated with the bat” (especially since he plays at Petco, as his home/away splits are huge). This is exactly the kind of player Theo would try to get, if he had the pieces to give up. “Not be able to lead them anywhere” would apply if Hedley was a high-impact FA, but he’s not – he’s young and will still be a useful piece when the team is ready to compete in 2-3 years. Padres don’t want Garza, they just gave up a veteran pitcher to the Reds get a haul of prospects. Possibly LaHair +T.wood/Wells + Marmol might approach an acceptable package, but don’t jump on me – that’s just off the top of my head.
Dude. Padres don’t want Lahair, an aging former 4a player, one of your scrap heap pitchers, and an overpaid inconsistent reliever.
Matt Garza
i hope the padres go for top talent and not quantity, i’d be all for trading headley for top prospects straight up if it nets us a top 15 guy or so.
They’ll give him away to the cubs shortly
He’s the 13th most valuable position player in baseball? Haha! FanGraphs are a joke.
Josh Hamilton has only been 0.4 WAR better than him this season. What a great and accurate stat.
Hamilton is actually at around a 3.1 WAR on BR, Headley is at a 2.2 WAR there. Probably a more accurate representation.
And WAR is cumulative through the season. Hamilton has absolutely sucked at the plate lately, and is pretty much a replacement level player defensively. He’s batting .194 with 1 HR and 27 K’s in June. His BA has dropped from .380 to .319 in a little over a month.
Honestly, I tend to agree. I think they overvalue defense, especially with as “meh” as the defensive metrics are overall.
No everyone, the padres don’t want a bunch of fringey prospects. Headley is the best player on the Padres, not too expensive, has years of control, plays great defense, and is very underrated with the bat. In a neutral hitting environment and better lineup he would be a beast.
The Padres also have the deepest Farm system in baseball, so their looking for High Upside Top prospects. If they don’t get that they should just keep him and put Gyorko at 2nd.
Arrieta, Schoop, and someone that isn’t named (Britton, Machado, or Tillman) for Headley and Volquez. That is my final offer!
Haha are you putting Bundy on the table?!
You’d have to think Schoop would be involved though…
no Bundy ever!
Not even for Headley, Quentin, Volquez, and Street?
The offer above was not only my final offer, it was really the only offer the O’s could.
As for Bundy, the Orioles really can’t trade him even if they wanted to, you have to hold onto him for a year as per draft rules. I think there’s a few loop holes or something, but the bottom line is we can’t trade Bundy.
Plus the O’s could have gotten Street for Guthrie. We don’t need Street, he’s the Padres problem. As for Quentin, no I don’t want him either.
It’s either Volquez and Headley for what the O’s can offer or we can’t do it.
was joking about bundy, i know the o’s would never give him up.
no
Edinson Volquez in a hitter’s park in the American League?
Yikes…
Braves will give up minor,spruill,and salcedo for chase and a minor league pitcher.
The Padres will absolutely get a better offer than that.
Owens and Marte for Headley.
Makes no sense for the Buccos. If Marte is dealt, they need an OF that is better than what Marte would be in the OF.
The Padres already have a crowded outfield. I don’t know much about Marte but if he’s an outfielder, probably won’t be a good match for the Pads.
The Padres probably would not take it. You are correct. Marte’s D could play well at Petco. They are talking of moving McCutchen to LF for him. Its in the ballpark of something it would take.
I wouldnt make that deal from the pirates side
Third Base is not a position of need for the Pirates any longer. Pedro Alvarez is arriving as a ML hitter more every day. His defense is tremendous, too. Headley has middling value as an outfielder and hasn’t played there since 2009. Not a good match. Quentin on the other hand, would be perfect. A right-handed power bat to put behind Pedro in the lineup. Realistically, I would trade any prospects not named Taillon, Cole, Heredia, or Marte. Maybe Alex Presley, Jeff Locke, Rudy Owens, etc.
Agreed, Quentin would be much more useful for the Pirates.
I’d imagine the Pirates would use Headley in RF almost exclusively. Tabata/Presley platoon in LF until Marte is ready. McGehee and Jones would platoon at 1B and Hague would be out of a major league job.
Detroit could fit. Rotate Fielder and Cabrera at DH/1B, and move Martinez to LF. I mean, if Delmon Young and Carlos Lee can do it, so can Martinez.
I could see Phillies in December if he doesn’t get traded before that, not right now.
dbacks could use some depth at 3rd. maybe saunders and zagurski for headley.
I don’t even
A lot of people dramatically undervaluing Chase Headley on here.
It would be comical if they weren’t serious. Instead it’s just sad.
Not that I’m surprised. Just almost amusing at this point.
If they’re serious they aren’t much of a baseball fan. Fan as in following the game and knowing who’s good and who isn’t.
Braves prospect Michael Schlact (@michael_schlact:disqus) put it best:
@mlbtraderumors who is Will Listen? Haven’t heard of him.
Pirates will be in the mix and stand a good shot of getting him with the right package. If they are smart they will try to get Quentin as well. There are plenty of pieces that can be moved.
A deal built around Skaggs could prob get it done. Skaggs and Para?
WAY too much to give up on AZ’s behalf.
Skaggs for Headley straight up is probably a solid deal. SD would need a strong offer to trade to a division rival. Arizona has a glut of young pitching depth. Comparable deal to the Giants mets deal last year where The Mets got Wheeler for half a year of Beltran.
Skaggs straight up prob isn’t enough; and the Wheeler-Beltran deal isn’t as comparable as you think. For one thing, Headley has 2 arb years left for his future teams control, also if the team was to let him walk in 2 seasons they will most likely recieve 2 draft picks. Beltran was in the last year of a mega deal and as part of his contract any team that aquired him couldn’t offer him arbs or recieve picks, therefore his market value was depressed because he was strictly a rental and even still he returned a systems top 3 prospect.
Headley to Angels for Mike Trout 😉 one can dream.