The Yankees took the first step in upgrading their moribund offense on Tuesday, trading for San Diego third baseman Chase Headley.
Though Headley likely provides an incremental upgrade, general manager Brian Cashman said “we’re open to anything.”
The 30-year-old Headley had long been a target for the Yankees, but Headley’s production has declined each of the last two seasons. The Yankees are hopeful an epidural he had last month has helped a herniated disk and he has hit better since July 1.
Still, Cashman hardly spoke glowingly of his new acquisition.
“We feel at the very least we’re getting an average everyday major leaguer at that position and maybe more,” Cashman said. “We’ll see.”
Headley said his back is OK.
“It’s been great,” said Headley, who had the game-winning hit in the Yankees’ 2-1, 14-inning victory Tuesday night over the Rangers. “I had really struggled with it before the epidural, but since then it’s been better and it doesn’t affect me when I’m playing. We’ll keep an eye on it.”
To acquire Headley, the Yankees surrendered Yangervis Solarte, who cooled off considerably after a surprising start and minor league right-hander Rafael De Paula, 23, who was 6-5 with a 4.15 ERA for Class-A Tampa.
https://twitter.com/ChaseHeadley7/status/491631144300212224
The switch-hitting Headley, who will be a free agent after the season, has hit just seven homers this year and has a career-low .651 OPS, but over the last three weeks, he has a .785 OPS in 15 games.
Though he is just two years removed from a 31-homer season in San Diego, Cashman doesn’t view Headley as a power hitter.
“I think he can certainly deliver the long ball,” Cashman said. “This ballpark is certainly more conducive to that than the one he is coming from, but I think he’s a guy that impacts you on the offensive side with plate discipline as well as batting average. He’s a professional hitter. I don’t think we’re getting a big thumper.”
Of course, if his back doesn’t stay healthy, Headley won’t be able to help much.
“There are some risks, but they appear to be something manageable and have been managed really well,” Cashman said. “We’re well past three weeks [since he got the shot] and he’s really responded well and positively both in performance and how he feels. We can’t deny that there’s risk.”
Cashman also called Headley a “rental” and declined to speculate whether Headley would be auditioning for a spot on the team next year, when third base figures to be a question mark again as Alex Rodriguez attempts to come back from two hip surgeries and a year-long suspension.
“Next year is next year,” Cashman said. “I can’t predict 2015 and what our needs will or won’t be. That’s not what this is about.”
The Yankees have been linked to Headley since Rodriguez underwent that second hip surgery after the 2012 season.
“Two years ago seems like a long time ago,” Cashman said with a smile, referring to Rodriguez’s many issues with the team. “I’m sure I inquired about it him.”
Thanks to Headley’s decline, he was much easier to pry from San Diego, but his arrival still represents an effort to make the Yankees viable contenders in a weak AL East, much like the trade for Brandon McCarthy that sent Vidal Nuno to Arizona.
“We’re competing for it,” Cashman said, adding that he wouldn’t be afraid to pull off a more significant move. “We’ve got high-end stuff without a doubt that other teams like. … I have more work to do.”
And despite the timing of the move, with Mark Teixeira sidelined with a back injury, the GM said he had the same offer on the table since before the first baseman went on the shelf.
The Yankees will pay roughly $3 million of the $4 million Headley has remaining on his $10.5 million salary this season.