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Padres, Chase Headley avoid arbitration

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USA Today Sports

The San Diego Padres come to an agreement with their third baseman on his 2013 salary.

The San Diego Padres have reportedly settled the largest arbitration differential of the offseason. The Padres have agreed to a one-year, $8.575 million contract to avoid salary arbitration with third baseman Chase Headley, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.

Headley, a Super Two who was eligible for arbitration for the third time, initially filed for $10.3 million, while San Diego countered with a $7.075 million contract.

The 28-year-old Headley had his best season in 2012, posting a .286/.376/.498 line in 699 plate appearances for the Padres. The most significant bump in Headley's game came in the power department; despite playing in the power-suppressing Petco Park, the switch-hitter slugged 31 homers, 19 more than his career-high of 12 in 2009. Headley also earned an All-Star bid, a Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger while finishing fifth in MVP voting.

Headley's breakout season came under odd conditions; he saw a decrease in his BABIP, line-drive rate, and fly-ball rate while posting an increase in his ground-ball rate.

While he played better away from Petco Park, the difference in his offense was not a stark contrast. In 345 home plate appearances, Headley hit .272/.357/.455 with 13 homers, and in 354 away plate appearances, he hit .300/.395/.541 with 18 home runs.

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