San Diego Padres: Jabari Blash DFA’d By Yankees

After being traded to the New York Yankees in the Chase Headley deal this past offseason, Jabari Blash has been designated for assignment by the New York Yankees.

In the trade that brought Chase Headley back to the San Diego Padres in December of last year, the Friars had to give up one of their young, power-hitting outfield prospects in exchange. Jabari Blash was that player.

Yesterday, after acquiring infielder Brandon Drury from the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Yanks needed to clear a spot on their roster and they designated Blash for assignment. In the move that brought Headley and right-handed hurler Bryan Mitchell to San Diego, Blash was the only player New York got in return.

Now that they’ve DFA’d him, putting aside the small return they’d receive for him if they were to find a trade partner for him, the Yanks have pretty much washed their hands of the Headley deal and have nothing to show for it but Headley’s contract coming off of their books and losing a mid-to-high level prospect.

Of course, with Drury now onboard, the end-product of all of Brian Cashman’s moves leaves them with an effective, economically-wise option at second base until highly-touted prospect Gleyber Torres is ready to take over the starting position.

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Any chance the San Diego Padres bring back Blash?

As entertaining as it would seem for San Diego Padres GM A.J Preller to bring Jabari Blash back into the fold after trading him away just two short months ago, it’s unlikely that would happen.

Blash would serve as a fantastic depth player in the Friars’ farm-system, but at this point in his career, it would be a long-shot for him to pan out.

Of course, he did show some potential last season. In 61 games with the Padres last year, Blash hit only .213 but had an on-base percentage of .333 with five home runs. If there wasn’t such a surplus of more-talented players on the roster right now, I wouldn’t be surprised if Preller took a flyer on him.

Next: Padres Can't Count On Another Move

Though for the amount of risk bringing Blash back would cost, the gamble could certainly end up being worth it. Again, there may not be a spot for Blash on the Padres 25-man roster, but if he were to crush Triple-A pitching and rebuild his value, Preller could then flip him again and stash another top-prospect into his satchel chock-full of them.

Updated 9:21 am, 2/21/18:

Jabari Blash was traded from the New York Yankees to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for cash considerations. From the legendary Bill James (an entertaining Twitter follow @billjamesonline, by the way).