Padres designate Chase Headley for assignment

The Padres have designated high-priced third baseman Chase Headley for assignment, the team announced. Infielder Cory Spangenberg was recalled from Triple-A El Paso to replace Headley on the roster.

Headley struggled mightily in his return to San Diego this season after the Padres acquired him in a trade with the Yankees, who he played for the last three and a half seasons. The 34-year-old third baseman, who was drafted by San Diego in 2005 and played for them from 2007 to midway through 2014 before they dealt him to New York, slashed .115/.233/.135 in 60 plate appearances across 27 games. Headley, who was coming off a 2017 season in which he slashed .273/.352/.406 in 147 games, was beat out for the starting spot at third base by rookie Christian Villanueva during spring training.

Because of his poor performance and limited playing time, the Padres opted to DFA him in hopes that he could be acquired by another team through trade or waivers. If a team claims him off waivers, the Padres will not have to pay the $13 million he is due this year as part of the final year of his four-year, $52 million contract. The Padres have seven days to either trade, release or waive Headley.

In his 12 big league seasons, Headley batted .263/.342/.399 with 130 home runs. His best season was in 2012, when he led the National League with 115 RBI while hitting 31 homers. That year, he finished fifth in the NL MVP voting and was both a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner.