The New York Yankees have made their first major move of the MLB trade deadline by adding San Diego Padres third baseman Chase Headley in a deal on Tuesday afternoon. The 30-year-old Headley is hitting just .229 with seven homers and 32 RBIs on the season and was set to become a free agent following the 2014 season.
According to ESPN, New York sends infielder Yangervis Solarte and minor league pitcher Rafael De Paula to the Padres in this deal. Solarte, a 27-year-old third baseman, is hitting .254 with six homers and 31 RBIs this season with the Yankees. He also boasts a .334 on-base percentage in his first season in the Majors.
De Paula was ranked 12th in the Yankees farm system prior to the start of the season. Some outlets even had him among the top-10 Yankees prospects. The young righty is 6-5 in 17 starts for Single-A Tampa this season.
Headley was a prime bat on the trade market, but he has struggled in recent seasons. Two years removed from hitting 31 homers and driving in 115 runs for the Padres, he’s combined to hit just 20 homers, drive in 82 runs and boasts a sub .240 batting average since the start of the 2013 campaign.
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