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Chase Headley is no longer a member of the San Diego Padres. The third baseman was traded to the New York Yankees on Tuesday as part of a three-player deal, in exchange for utility infielder Yangervis Solarte and right-hander Rafael De Paula.
In the deal, which was reported by CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the Yankees will acquire the 30-year-old Headley and a $1 million fee from the Padres, who were looking to sell their third baseman given his expiring contract and the team's 11.5-game deficit in the NL West.
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Headley has a history of success, having led the National League in RBI in 2012 while posting an .875 OPS that year. But he has since failed to replicate that success, and his numbers this year (.229/.296/.355) are lower than they have ever been throughout his eight-year career.
Poor season numbers aside, Headley has looked like his former self in July, with a .323 batting average. A change of scenery could also be a huge difference-maker in this case, with the Padres' protection-lacking lineup and the expansive dimensions of Petco Park only making matters worse for the third baseman.
In moving to New York, Headley switches from the park with the fifth-lowest home run park factor to the one with the second-highest, according to ESPN. He's also struggled at home throughout his career, with a .243/.331/.372 slash line at Petco, compared to a .286/.360/.444 line on the road. Headley will also join a lineup very much in need of his services, but one that is a significant upgrade over that of the offensively challenged Padres.
In exchange for Headley, the Padres acquired Solarte, a versatile 27-year-old infielder from Venezuela, and De Paula, a 6'2" right-hander with a 4.15 ERA this season for the Yankees' High-A affiliate. Solarte, a longtime minor leaguer who is getting his first taste of big league action this season, made the Yankees big league squad out of spring training and started the season red-hot. He had a .935 OPS on May 14, but has since fallen off quickly, and is now sitting at .254/.337/.381 in 289 plate appearances, with his 100 OPS+ making him the definition of "league average."
De Paula is in the midst of his third minor-league season, and though he isn't regarded as one of the team's top prospects, he has posted solid numbers at the lower levels of the minors, with a 3.58 ERA in 264 innings. He is 6-5 on the season for the High-A Tampa Yankees.