San Diego Padres Will Let Performances Determine Playing Time

The San Diego Padres had a few logjams at a few different positions heading into the season and still do to an extent. The team has and will continue to let individual performances determine who gets playing time.

Chase Headley is currently hitting .088 with a .343 OPS in 34 at-bats this season. Coming into the year, Headley, 33, was pegged as the usual Friars’ third baseman, with Christian Villanueva and Cory Spangenberg seeing time there as well.

After an oh-for-a-while to start the year, and only three hits total (one extra-base hit) all season, Headley has virtually played himself out of even a reserve spot.

Christian Villanueva has all but cemented the everyday spot at third, with Spangy still seeing some time there too.

With Eric Hosmer being placed on family medical leave, the 33-year-old got the start at first base last night and proceeded to go 0-for-4 leaving two men on base.  In all likelihood, we’ll see Wil Myers at first today.

Padres let their third base situation play itself out

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Villanueva, 26, is slashing .355/.444/1.219 with seven homers and sixteen RBI in 62 at-bats.

Needless to say, Andy Green let Villa’s production (and Headley’s lack thereof) dictate the situation and moved on from there.

Headley got his opportunities at first and as the de facto backup to Villanueva but has failed quite miserably in both situations.

Until he gets his head on straight, which by the looks of things could be a while, we may have to look forward to Chase Headley being paid $13 million this year to be a pinch-hitter/veteran leader.

Since the Padres would have to eat nearly all of his salary in order to get anything of any value back in return in a trade, the team will most likely hold onto Headley until late July, as long as his bat comes around, and a contender comes calling for him.

Next: Is it Time to Move on from Ellis?

Unless he’s truly done and he continues to 0-for-18 his way out of MLB altogether, someone will want him. Right?