Padres third baseman Chase Headley was sitting pretty, heading into arbitration after his huge 2012 season.
The payoff came Wednesday.
Headley and the Padres avoided salary arbitration, agreeing on a one-year contract that gives the third baseman a $5.1 million raise.
Headley has asked for $10.3 million. The Padres countered with a $7.1 million offer. They settled for $8,575,000.
Headley, 28, batted 286 with 31 homeruns and a league best 115 RBI and made $3.5 million last season.
Long touted as a future star, Headley finished fifth in MVP voting while winning a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award.
The Padres have one player left in arbitration: pitcher Clayton Richard. The left-hander requested a raise from $2,705,000 to $5.5 million, while San Diego offered $4,905,000.
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Padres pitchers and catchers report to Peroia in two weeks.
Fanfest is next Saturday at Petco Park.
