The San Diego Padres’ second-half resurgence may have the club re-thinking its off-season plans. San Diego could decide to retain third baseman Chase Headley, and the team may even look to sign at least one free agent starting pitcher, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:

Club officials, encouraged by the team’s recent surge, could adjust their off-season plans in two ways, according to sources with knowledge of the Padres’ thinking.

One, by keeping third baseman Chase Headley.

Two, by signing at least one free-agent starting pitcher.

Headley has been fantastic over the second-half of the season, and he’s hitting .277/.366/.464 with twenty-three doubles and twenty-two home runs on the year. The 28-year-old is under team control through the 2014 season.

One of the main reasons the Padres were expected to trade Headley at some point this summer or winter is the presence of top third base prospect Jedd Gyorko. If San Diego decides to hang onto Headley, Rosenthal says the club would use Gyorko at second.

Headley’s presence would help solidify the Padres’ lineup, and Rosenthal notes the club could look to the free agent market for help in the starting pitching department. He says the team may pursue a high-impact starter such as New York Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda. Beyond Kuroda, Rosenthal lists other potential veteran options for San Diego, including Ryan Dempster, Anibal Sanchez, Edwin Jackson, Dan Haren, Ervin Santana and Gavin Floyd.

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Should the Padres trade Headley or lock him up long-term?

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