The Padres they really wanted pitcher Bryan Mitchell so in a trade with the Yankees they took on Chase Headley’s $13 million contract, hoping the veteran infielder could produce for a year before he moved on or was traded.
Headley is moving on a lot sooner than expected.
On Saturday the Padres designated the veteran infielder for assignment. They now have a week to trade him (extremely unlikely) or outright release him (almost guaranteed). Once he’s released Headley can re-sign with any other team for the minimum salary but the Padres will still be responsible for paying off his contract.
Headley hit .115 without a home run, or even a hit as a member of a starting lineup, in his return to San Diego. All of his base hits came as a pinch-hitter after he lost his starting job to rookie Carlos Villanueva.
Cory Spangenberg was recalled from Triple-A El Paso to fill Headley’s spot with the big league club but the move also offers an interesting possibility. With the DFA, Headley is automatically removed from San Diego’s 40-man roster (the group of protected players eligible to be on the active big league 25-man roster).
That means the Padres can add one of their top prospects to the list. The most likely candidates are El Paso OF Franmil Reyes, who leads all of minor league baseball in home runs … INF Luis Urias, the Padres #3 prospect who has an .820 OPS as a 20-year-old playing at Triple-A … RHP Brett Kennedy, who’s among the Pacific Coast League leaders in ERA, wins, and strikeouts … and RHP Cal Quantrill, the Padres #4 prospect and 1st round pick from the 2016 draft who’s pitching at Double-A San Antonio.
