The Padres have designated third baseman Chase Headley for assignment, according to a team announcement. San Diego recalled infielder Cory Spangenberg from Triple-A to take Headley’s 25-man roster spot.
With a .115/.233/.135 line in 60 plate appearances, Headley got off to a terrible start prior to his designation. Between his own struggles and the success of fellow third baseman Christian Villanueva, the 34-year-old Headley was unable to return to a regular role in San Diego – which he held with both the Padres and Yankees from 2008-17. Headley was a quality starter throughout that run, especially during a 31-home run, 7.2-fWAR season with the Padres in 2012.
The switch-hitting Headley chipped in a decent season last year in New York, where he slashed .273/.352/.406 with 1.9 fWAR in 586 PAs and helped the Yankees to the ALCS. But the Yankees then shipped Headley to the Padres in a salary-dumping trade over the winter, when the Pads dealt outfielder Jabari Blash, agreed to take on Headley’s $13MM salary and acquired right-hander Bryan Mitchell.
The hope was that Headley would continue to serve as a capable veteran in his second go-round with the Padres, but the deal was more about Mitchell from the rebuilding team’s point of view. Unfortunately for the Padres, however, the 27-year-old Mitchell hasn’t been a worthwhile pickup to this point. Mitchell has been among the worst pitchers in the majors during the first month-plus of the season, in fact, having recorded 37 2/3 innings (eight appearances, seven starts) of 6.21 ERA/6.66 FIP ball and posted disastrous strikeout and walk rates (4.3 K/9, 6.93 BB/9).
A turnaround could perhaps still be in the offing for Mitchell, but it doesn’t appear one will come for Headley in a Padres uniform. Unless the Padres are able to deal him elsewhere for another team’s unwanted salary within the next week, it seems likely Headley will clear waivers and become a free agent. At that point, a club would be able to add a potentially helpful piece for the prorated league minimum.
who’s the replacement?
Spangenberg?
Apparently so
A box of Cracker Jacks
Might be hard to find a taker unless they take on someone’s contract
Poor Headley
I like Chase. Loved what he did for the Pads in his first tour, but realistically there was no place for him.
1 year?
My thoughts also. They could have put him at 1b for one year and passed on the Hosmer deal. I doubt the Pads record would have changed much.
Exactly. Hosmer or Headley (or Nate Colbert) wouldn’t make a difference with this team’s starting pitching. If it were my money, I would have passed on Hosmer and either signed Agon on the cheap or put Headley at first.
An A-Gon/Pads reunion would have been a cool way to end his career.
It’s crazy to think that after the 2012 season they almost signed him to an extension that would have been the biggest in Padres history at the time.
They really should have just traded him that offseason.
That seems to happen to the Padres a lot… hold on one season too long, and all trade value… gone. Khalil Greene….
They got Gregerson from the Cardinals for Khalil Greene. That was a pretty nice trade.
Sure wasn’t from the Cardinals standpoint
I don’t think anyone could have predicted his mental issues. He has basically disappeared since his retirement, and I hope he has found some help for his problems. At the end of his Cards career Greene was cutting himself and other scary things.
That roster spot was probably more valuable than the off chance that Preller would be able to dump a few million of that contract on someone else.
Can anyone give me a source for the rumor that Preller had a trade lined up that would have sent Headley to the Angels when he made the Mitchell/Headley trade but the Angels backed out at the last minute?
twitter.com/BNightengale/status/941123565230985217
mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/angels-close-to-acquiri…
Yeah
The Angels were interested in him like an hour before they got Kinsler, which is why they backed out I think.
Links just say they were “interested.” I heard from more than one person that Headley to the Angels was a “done deal” but then the Angels backed out. Big difference between “interested” and “done deal.”
Yeah I don’t think there was any “done deal”… everything I saw was just heavy interest/engaged in dialogue…. but that stopped once the Angels signed Cozart.
Pretty obvious that Preller wanted to flip headley immediately though…. think he misjudged the level of interest there would be
Still waiting for you to come up with ONE thing the Padres objectively gained by having Joey Lucchesi in the Majors to start the season other than a meaningless win or two.
When you say come up with ONE thing…. and then you follow that up with “other than…”
Kinda just defeats the purpose of your statement.
So basically you can’t come up with anything. In the end, no matter how you cut it, slice it or dice it, keeping Lucchesi in the minors for three weeks was the smart move whether you like it or not!
Yeah, we’ve already had this discussion and it’s a difference of opinion. Frankly, it’s a little depressing that you needed to bring it back up on a separate post of a completely separate topic…
No, it’s not an opinion, you’re just wrong. You have failed to come up with any objective reason for the Padres to call Lucchesi up early. When you were called out on it you tried to crawl back into your little hole but now I am dragging you kicking and screaming out of that hole.
Actually I came up with objective reasons, you just disagreed with them. Also, you just came up with reasons also when you said “OTHER THAN” the wins…
When you say “something the Padres objectively gained OTHER THAN… wins”.
Then the “OTHER THAN” just validated those wins as something objectively gained.
So, in your next effort to show how smart you are… when you ask someone to show you ONE thing… don’t follow it with “other than”… thank you, you won that debate for me.
You may go now.
No, you came up with no objective reasons. And I didn’t disagree with you because “disagree” implies that no one is necessarily right or wrong. I’m right. The extra win or two that the Padres might have picked up by having Lucchesi on the roster to start the season is nowhere near being worth the potential 10+ wins they might get from him in 2024 if they still had him. Especially considering the Padres aren’t contending this year so an extra win or two won’t help anything for them. So the Padres don’t actually gain anything from that extra win or two and thus, it doesn’t help your argument as much as you want it to.
Do not post such nonsense again. It really makes you look foolish and is an embarrassment for you when someone else destroys your comment.
Didn’t you just say “other than” the wins? How is there not ONE thing… if you list something as an “other than”? Sorry dude… you just beat yourself. Also, are you under the impression that people don’t know who you are? It’s ok WestCoastRyan….
This is definitely the only account I’ve ever used on here but whatever, believe what you want.
Those extra wins don’t count because the Padres are rebuilding so they don’t help the team. If you seriously think an extra win or two during a rebuilding year is worth losing control of Lucchesi’s entire 2024 season then that tells us all we need to know about you.
WestCoastRyan …. you are tip-toeing a line of borderline psychotic if you think we don’t know you’re WestCoastRyan… here’s a hint: maybe change your name in the Padres website platform and don’t use direct quotes that you post there as well….
That’ll be all for now… try another screenname.
How can you “know” something that isn’t true? And thinking an extra win or two in a rebuilding year is worth more than Lucchesi’s entire 2024 season and coming up with weird Internet username conspiracy theories are beyond psychotic…
No, it won’t be all for now.
Haha hey WestCoastRyan…. how about I cut and copy some of your recent posts in the Padres website chat…. and then you can tell everyone here it’s not you….
How about the fact that Joey Fuego gets to work with Balsley and his staff on a regular basis?
@Peter Phelps he would have still gotten to do that if they started him in the minors for three weeks.
How about you come up with something the Padres ACTUALLY gain by having Lucchesi on the roster to start the season? The extra win or two doesn’t count.
You just want to keep talking…. I was gonna just let it go… but you seem so intent on “destroying” people’s comments…. dragging me out of a rabbit hole? Haha first of all, get a life dude. Second of all…. you ever get that guy those Carlos Asuaje stats at the catcher position? Since you thought he’d be just as good at catcher as spangenberg is at left field? Dude asked you to back that up with some data…. you vanished. Yeah, we all saw it…. I can bring that discussion here if you’d like? Since you think I “can’t know something that’s not true…” haha. You sure about that?
Why don’t the extra wins count? Especially if you originally validated them by saying “something they gained OTHER THAN the wins”…. just stop WestCoastRyan…. today isn’t your day….
Think you can set the bar a little bit higher than “as good as Spangenberg is at left field.”
They don’t count because they don’t help the Padres. The extra wins they gain by having Lucchesi on the team in 2024 will. Are you seriously saying an extra win or two in a rebuilding year is worth more to you than 10+ wins in a year where the Padres will theoretically be contending????
Did you get those Carlos asuaje stats at catcher? Or did you cower into your rabbit hole…
If they didn’t count as something gained…. why did you say something gained “other than”…
What are you talking about now? Carlos Asuaje has never played catcher as far as I know. I can’t pull the stats on something that didn’t happen.
I said “other than” because I’m always 2 steps ahead of you. I knew that would be your answer but it’s not a valid answer because an extra win or two during a rebuilding year doesn’t actually help anything.
Know what’s weird? WestCoastRyan just had a conversation in the Padres site about that and “destroying posts” and “don’t post such nonsense in here again” and other EXACT quotes that you have just posted here…. I mean, you can keep denying it all you want…. it’s just gonna be more embarrassing when it’s posted here and obvious that it’s you… you might want to just stop now
Always two steps ahead huh? Ok…. haha
Not as embarrassing as your dubious claim that two extra wins in a rebuilding year is worth more than Joey Lucchesi’s entire 2024 season and subsequent tantrum when JackDanielsGhost, myself and others disagreed.
Also I like how you can’t come up with a good reason to call Lucchesi up early, so you try to derail this conversation into some Internet username conspiracy theory. So pathetic.
hey, totally random question here “redrooster”… since you aren’t WestCoastRyan and have only used this account…. quick thought… do you think that Corey spangenberg can spell someone in left field ever? Or do you think that’s the equivalent of putting Carlos asuaje at catcher? Think asuaje can play catcher just as well as spangenberg can play left field?
Just quit responding so we can avoid reading this non sense
Oh there’s no username conspiracy…. although, anyone in the Padres thread knows now how you think having a username is the only way to know something about baseball….
Catcher is a harder position to play than left field but Carlos Asuaje should not aspire to be “better than Cory Spangenberg in left field” in any of his endeavors. Not a lofty bar to clear.
Done
Yes, refuse to provide any answer to what the Padres objectively gain by having Lucchesi on the roster to start the season. It’s quite hilarious.
So, as SOON AS WESTCOASTRYAN disappears, “REDROOSTER” magically shows up and has been “the only user name I’ve ever had and I’ve been on here for years”. Man, you’re a lot less hinged than I thought. However, you slipped up Ryan. You said something you’ve said a thousand times. Oh and the fact you don’t understand how opinions work.
You accuse everyone you don’t like of being west coast ryan so…
And you are the one who doesn’t understand how opinions work considering that this is all a fact. Notice how Kwflanne has failed to name ONE thing the Padres objectively gain by having Lucchesi on the roster to start the season. If your Cubs can handle having Kris Bryant in the minors for the first two weeks of a contending year, the Padres should have no problem doing it with Lucchesi in a rebuilding year. So in your words, go away before I make you.
Nope not everyone, just you. And that’s not exactly a denial….
And Just Another Fan as well. I’m definitely not this west coast ryan guy you are so obsessed with but believe what you want.
Sociopaths tend to believe themselves, so keep on keepin on.
Yeah I know they do. You prove that with every comment you post.
It’s just to easy Ryan. The reason everyone knows it’s you aside from the typical “I’m right everyone else is wrong” is because YOU comment on everything Padres. That’s your give. I’m sure you won’t admit you’re you because you FINALLY got banned before. I’m out, Later.
LOL so now commenting on everything Padres related means I’m west coast ryan? By your logic, a lot of people are west coast ryan. If anyone needs to be banned, it’s you.
So once again, go away before I make you.
Oh please, make me. I’m waiting, Ryan.
Not my name and you said that to Themed a few weeks ago
I’m still waiting. Please, “make me”.
Please “make” Themed go away.
This isn’t about Themed. (Despite how odd it is that you remember something I said to him weeks ago. Very Ryan like) anyways, go ahead, “make me” go away.
God this is embarrassing. You show all the signs of a social r-tard who knows nothing about interacting with other people.
When I say “Go away before I make you,” I am MAKING FUN OF YOU. Obviously I don’t have the ability to make anyone on here do anything, but neither do you. So again, how exactly do you plan to “make” Themed go away?
Alright Ryan.
That’s not my name you weirdo.
Sorry, okay “westcoastryan”.
I’m not him, he’s not me. I’m not going to say it again. You are literally the reason people on here don’t like the Cubs.
Grow up.
For the record.
The extra year of control they received by waiting to call guys up is worth more long term than whatever they do this season.
Now can we dad mitchell and call up huffman finally.
Lauer huffman lucchesi Ross lyes
In b4 Braves!
…this isn’t the time or thread. Don’t awaken the “atlbravesfan91”s of the website. Also, this isn’t a thread during the Coppy “era”.
If he can’t find a MLB job, can see him sign with the Yankees on a minor league deal as injury insurance. His time in the Bronx was mixed but last year wasn’t bad.
The Yanks are up to their ears in infield depth. As it is, Drury is probably headed for AAA when he returns from the DL, and Austin will follow him to Scranton when Bird comes back. It’s a good problem to have, but no need to add more to it. I highly doubt Cashman will have any interest in Headley.
Totally understand but with the way injuries develop in today’s game, you can never have enough depth. The main reason why he was traded was to free up money to stay under the threshold. He also won’t take up a 40 man roster spot unless he’s promoted. At minimum cost once he clears, there probably will be a team that will give him an MLB job but if not, I can see Cashman reaching out.
I would doubt the Dodgers would call and ask how much
A signed Clayton Kershaw jersey and a vintage Shawn Green bobblehead
I doubt Preller will be able to find a taker for Headley, unless some team out there would be willing to swap a bad contract or a minor league lottery ticket.
.
MLB Players who need to Retire
Hunter Pence
Albert Pujols
Chase Headley
Ian Kinsler
???
Elsbury
Why do people think Ellsbury cant produce? Theres no spot for him on this Yankees roster but hes still a 2 WAR guy. Overpaid, definitely. Needs to retire, no way. Him retiring would help the Yankees figure out their roster and relieve them of the money but its not like he cant put up a decent slash line.
Headley and Pence for sure. Kinsler and Pujols should retire after the season.
Headley has been a good MLB player as recent as last season. He is notorious for being an incredible slow starter. I think someone gives him a shot
Totally agree. A team with a key injury or going backwards, suppose this was last year. When Boston released Panda, they looked for other options before promoting Devers. They were limited by not wanting to go over the luxury tax threshold and would certainly have considered a player like Headley if their obligation was the MLB prorated minimum. Devers played a key role but suppose they signed Headley and he did ok? Devers might have stayed in the minors all year. If Frazier’s injury lingers, can you not see the Mets calling him?
Adam Wainwright
“Unfortunately for the Padres, however, the 27-year-old Mitchell hasn’t been a worthwhile pickup to this point.”
Well the Padres could just call up Enyel De Los Santos from triple-A, he’s been lights out.
32.1 IP — 39 SO — 0.84 ERA
Oh wait……
At least this trade made sense in theory. People were saying the same thing about Drew Pomeranz when he was acquired. Galvis for De Los Santos was just pointless.
Except De Los Santos is pitching great in minors for Phils and Galvis stinks 1 year rental .220 hitter
Sorry .212
Remember three weeks into the season when Padres twitter was clamoring for a Galvis extension? Those were good times, man.
Or they could just call up Brett Kennedy
37 IP , 38 SO, 13 BB 3.24 ERA who’s also pitching well in triple A.
They could also call up Jesse Scholtens which would be the 3rd pitcher from Prellers 2016 draft following Lucchesi and Lauer……..
See the problem isn’t a lack of options.
It was a worthwhile gamble for the Pads, unfortunately it ended up going horribly wrong
Crazy how Cashman got rid of the $13 MM. wonder where Headley will end up
it’s about time they jettisoned some dead weight.
The Jabari Blash-Chase Headley, Bryan Mitchel trade is looking like a scheme.
Bochy or Buddy will pick up Headley. He didn’t get a chance for PT with padres this time. They are in love with 26 year old rookie who makes errors every game. Started good but just went 0-30!!!!!! Hitting a baseball is hard!! Who are the blowhards on this site? Do any of you buy tickets and go to games? Keep lucchesi in minors for 3 weeks?? WTF! We want to win. Lots of injuries hurting us, but we don’t miss dumbo Myers. Pirela, Cordero,Renfroe,Margot are the 4 best OF. Bye Bye Willy! Take your stupid contract and enjoy Toronto.
He got a chance at the start of the season and didn’t hit a thing. Villanueva was hot and got PT. Preller’s not looking so good lately – giving up $13M of ownership’s money to get a pitcher who would have been dumped by the Yankees and available on the waiver wire and a washed-up Headley..
Headley was put in a position to fail and did. He’s still a useful player – 2 wins is definitely useful, and he can at least stand around at third and not embarrass himself, unlike Villanueva whose hot start is maybe the flukiest fluke that ever fluked, but he at least has some potential future value. Headley does not; he is what he is.
I always wonder what the contours of Headley’s career might have looked like had the Padres not made the incomprehensible decision to move him, at the major league level, to left field to start his career. Headley, who is a thick-bodied slow player, was dreadful in left and trying to learn a new position at the major-league level really hampered the development of his bat..
He should latch on somewhere, and I think his numbers in the toughest division in baseball, with the Yankees show that he still has use.
Unless there’s something physically wrong with him, i generally agree with you. He should still be able to be a useful player. If he’s waived someone will pick him up. And if he’s decent he will be flipped in July. It’s a very reasonable gamble.
Redrooster……are you really concerned we won’t be able to afford to keep Lucchesi in 2024?
Who was the last Padre prospect to play till he hit free agency that we couldn’t afford to keep?
There is literally zero downside to starting him in the minors for 3 weeks and getting control of his 2024 season guaranteed. And people like Kwflanne come up with the dumbest exucses like “At some point you gotta see what you have in your young players” even though the Padres still would have been able to do that if they waited 3 weeks.
What makes you think he cannot be sent down sometime between now and 2024 for a little bit? For that matter, what makes you so sure he is even going to be a productive major league player in 2024? Six years is a very long time in baseball. Just go back and look at some of the 2012 rookies and see how many of them are still on big league rosters now. Many top 100 prospects from 2012 are stars, but several are not even active players anymore. Lucchesi is not even a top 100 prospect. He is the #9 prospect for the Padres. Odds are Lucchesi will not stay in the bigs every day between now and 2024.
Well for one, because if Lucchesi keeps pitching the way he’s been pitching, it would be hard to send him down without drawing the ire of the MLBPA. And for two, if he doesn’t end up being a productive Major Leaguer, sending him down for 3 weeks won’t hurt the Padres. But if he is a productive Major Leaguer, not sending him down for 3 weeks will hurt the Padres. And sending him down for 3 weeks will not affect his chances of success. Kwflanne made this same argument a few days ago and now that I have debunked it a second time, I would appreciate it if no one makes it again. Have a nice day!
Lucchesi is old for a prospect, almost 25 already, and keeping him in the minors does him nor the team any good. He also is a two-pitch pitcher who relies on deception – that funky delivery – to get guys out. I suspect that his second time through the league things are going to get tougher for him; it’s hard to survive in a major league rotation with just two pitches. Worrying about his status in 2024 – when he’s going to be over 30 – isn’t really that vital to the Padres.
“… and keeping him in the minors does him nor the team any good.”
It certainly does the team good, because they gain control of his 2024 season. Until you can name one thing the Padres gain by having him on the roster to start this season, having him spend the first 3 weeks in the minors to start the season will remain the wise choice whether you like it or not!
He will be over 30 during 2024.
That’s not something they gain by having Lucchesi on the roster to start the season. If you can’t think of anything just say so. It’s ok. You’re allowed to be wrong.
Headley seems to me to be a good fit for the Braves, a much better fit than Joey Bats. I’d rather have his clubhouse influence on the young stars than Bautista’s hands down, and he’d cost basically nothing at this point.
Makes sense but Joey Bats is “sexy” and can likely be marketed in the longshot chance that the ceiling upside materializes. Obviously, Headley wasn’t available (and still isn’t yet for the prorated minimum) so time will tell. Excellent observation in the meantime.
He actually does make more sense than Bautista. Headley was better than Bautista last season playing in the same division, and Headley can still play third, although the glove has slipped a bit. He also acquitted himself well at first base last season, although the Braves have no need for him there. I suppose if the Braves had any idea they were going to contend they could have dealt for Headley earlier but I’m not sure if there’s room for him on their roster now.
Bottom line….the chances of 2024 being a problem in regards to Lucchesi is so slim it’s not worth the argument.
It’s also not worth worrying about which is why the Padres didn’t care.
Either he flames out and it doesn’t matter or he’s great and we can still sign him if we wish.
We have so many arms coming up behind him that Lucchesi/2024 is the least of the Padres concerns…..obviously or they would have kept him down.
Also,as was pointed out they could just let him spend 3-4 weeks to start “next” season at AAA if they’re concerned about it.
Not slim at all. Why would they want to sacrifice a full year of control of a good pitcher in exchange for 3 weeks in a rebuilding year?
It would be smarter to have control of that 2024 season guaranteed than have to overpay for it (and other years after it).
Pitching prospects flame out at an alarming rate. The Padres know this all too well. They need all the control they can get on Lucchesi.
Also as was pointed out, if he keeps pitching like this, it will be hard to send him down without pising off the MLBPA.
In the end, no matter how you cut it, slice it or dice it, control of Lucchesi’s 2024 season is worth more to the Padres than 3 weeks in a rebuilding year.
Lucchesi will be over 30 in 2024. He throws exactly two pitches. He’s a minor asset. This isn’t Mike Trout we’re talking about.
What do the Padres gain by having him on the Major League roster to start the season?
Your failure to answer that question in your next comment will be interpreted as “nothing.”
Because hes not really a prospect? He’s 25 in a couple weeks. He has nothing left to prove in the minors. His skill set is that of a reliever.
Ah, so once again you fail to name ONE thing the Padres gained by having Joey Lucchesi on the Major League roster to start the season. Thus, it is accordingly ruled that they gained nothing. They would, however, have gained control of his 2024 season by having him in the minors for the first 3 weeks to start the season. And if he is still pitching well at that point that would be very valuable to them. So thank you for proving me right once again.
And Kris Bryant also had nothing left to prove in the minors when the Cubs sent him down. Same with Ronald Acuna and the Braves so that’s not an excuse.
Yes, they would have gained his age-31 season. Most pitchers, as you know, aren’t particularly useful at that age. Lucchesi has a relief profile; he throws two pitches with a lot of deception and minor-league hitters were pretty hopeless against him. It’s not always about control, especially for guys like him.
And another thing; I like discussion. I really do. What I don’t like is insulting, berating, meanness and such. It’s why I have quit engaging kwflamme and The West Coast Ryan. Let’s have a discussion about baseball, not a shouting match. Okay?
If you seriously think that three weeks of Lucchesi during a rebuilding year have more value than his age-31 season, that tells us all we need to know about you.
And being one of the pretentious, phony-nice type commenters like you is even worse.
Hey Rooster! I know this is off topic , but what did you think of Justin Upton
Hey RR! I know this off topic, but what did you think of Justin Upton resigning with the Angels in the off-season instead of trying out free agency? Just wondering !
“phony nice-type commenters” is pretty great. I’ll wai while you find some examples of me being not nice in this forum. I like discussion; I don’t like gotcha posting and such. Maybe I am old-fashioned, or just old.
And, yes, most pitchers are pretty much washed up by 31. Hall of Famers are exceptions, but Lucchesi isn’t a Hall of Fame type of pitcher.
I think you need
to stop commenting like
And @David there are plenty of examples of you doing exactly that. Still waiting for you to tell me one thing the Padres gain by having Lucchesi on the roster for the first three weeks of a rebuilding year.
But to sum this all up, I’m not saying you’re right or wrong that Lucchesi will be done by the time 2024 rolls around. I’m saying that, if you are right, then having control of his 2024 wouldn’t hurt the Padres. But if you are wrong, then not having control of his 2024 season WOULD hurt the Padres. So with that in mind, I think you know what the smart choice is.
Headley is even more of a slow starter than most switch hitters…and they’re all pretty slow starters. He’s had these kinds of disastrous slumps early in the season, for the Yanks, several times, only to make up for it the rest of the way. In fact, with the Yanks, his defense looked even worse in April/May, than it looks this year.
So, from my point of view, it’s pretty idiotic of the Padres to take on his contract and then dump him over a bad April and early May. Especially in a division no one’s running away with…Chase could’ve helped them stay in it over the summer.
There’s a smart GM out there who’s gonna pick him up. Might even be the Dodgers. Cashman would be all over this too, if he didn’t have a logjam in the infield right now.