San Diego Padres Designate Chase Headley for Assignment

After a devastating drop-off in production, the San Diego Padres have designated the veteran third baseman for assignment.

As per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, the Padres have designated Chase Headley for assignment, Some folks were very excited for the return of Chase Headley to the San Diego Padres. Others were wary. Apparently, their hesitation to believe things until they saw them was the correct course of action.

His first nine seasons in the major leagues were spent with the Friars. During that time, the  now-34-year-old became one of the more prolific hitters in franchise history. His .265 batting average during his first stint in San Diego was respectable. But it was in other areas that Headley was more potent.

His 162-game averages for his time spent with the Padres are as follows: 156 hits, 33 doubles, three triples, sixteen home runs, 71 runs batted in, ten stolen bases, an on-base percentage of .347 and a 113 OPS+. Truly an all-around competent offensive player.

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San Diego Padres bring Headley back into the mix

After spending four seasons with the New York Yankees that saw him slash .262/.339/.387 with 43 home runs and 191 runs batted in, he was traded back to San Diego.

It was fair for San Diego Padres fans to get somewhat excited about the return of one of our very own. Heck, he was here through some tough times, with some good sprinkled in too.

If he could be a key piece in the resurrection of this organization and see it through to its fruition as a real contender, it would be one of the feel-good stories in baseball.

The Padres gave up Jabari Blash (.222/.522 OPS in nine at-bats this season with Anaheim) and took on Headley’s hefty contract ($13 million) in order to bring Bryan Mitchell into the fold and plugged him into the rotation to start the season.

Unfortunately, things didn’t work out so well for either of those plans. Mitchell has been banished to the bullpen, and through 60 plate appearances this year, Headley is hitting .115 with a .368 OPS (6-for-52 with six walks and twenty strikeouts).

Next: Top Strikeout Pitchers in Padres History

It was high time for AJ Preller and Andy Green to bite the bullet and cut bait on Chase Headley. They now have seven days to work out a trade for the twelve-year MLB veteran or he would become a free-agent with the Padres picking up all but the likely veteran’s minimum he would end up signing for.