In what amounts to a salary dump after taking on Giancarlo Stanton’s contract, the New York Yankees have reportedly traded starting third baseman Chase Headley and reliever Bryan Mitchell to the San Diego Padres.
I hear #Yankees have traded Mitchell and Chase Headley to the #Padres
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 12, 2017
New York will save significant cash. Headley is set to make $13 million this upcoming season. The former MVP candidate also returns to where it all started.
Headley played in San Diego from 2007 to midway through the 2014 season. He hit .273 with 12 homers and 61 RBI last season for the Bronx Bombers.
In return, the Yankees have reportedly acquired outfielder Jabari Blash.
#Yankees acquiring Jabari Blash from #Padres for Chase Headley and Bryan Mitchell, sources tell The Athletic. First: @Joelsherman1.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 12, 2017
The youngster is a career .200 hitter in 235 at-bats. Again, this is more about the Yankees cutting payroll.
#Padres absorbing all of Headley’s $13M salary for 2018, sources say. Trade clears more room under luxury-tax threshold for #Yankees.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 12, 2017
Though, it also means top prospect Miguel Andujar is likely ready to take over at third in New York. According to MLB.com, he’s a top-five player in the Yankees farm system. He hit .315 with 12 homers and 82 RBI between Double-A and Triple-A last season.