Padres will listen on offers for Headley

[Post Count Padder]

The Padres are getting calls on third baseman Chase Headley, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). San Diego will listen to offers but it will require "a lot" to part with him.

 

The 28-year-old Headley has hit .269/.373/.415 with seven homers and eight steals this season. The switch-hitter quietly owns a career .300/.366/.444 batting line away from Petco Park and his defense at the hot corner is well-regarded. FanGraphs says he's been the 13th most valuable position player in baseball this season at 3.0 wins above replacement, or WAR.

 

Headley will earn $3.475MM this season, his second as an arbitration-eligible player. Since he's a Super Two, he still has two more years of team control remaining before becoming eligible for free agency after the 2014 season.

 

I would love if we could acquire him. I'd trade Vitters for him but it would certainly take more than that.

[Tracer Bullet]

We've got "a lot" to get rid of. Baker, LaHair, Cardenas, Mather - take em all.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

By the time we're ready to compete, he'll be 35. Pass.

[Backtobanks]

By the time we're ready to compete, he'll be 35. Pass.

 

By the time we're ready to compete Castro, Rizzo, and Soler might be 30.

[davell]

Chase Headley is pretty good. He makes absolutely zero sense for us to overwhelm San Diego for.

[Gilby]

If Theo wants to compete next year, this is the player we should target. He has a chance to be a star outside of Petco. I'd easily deal two of Jackson/McNutt/Vitters.

 

Though I'm honestly not sure how much value those guys have, especially McNutt.

[Guest]

It's hard to think about what to give up because it's hard to tell what they'd want. They'd be trading an in prime star at a corner IF position with 3 years to free agency, if they don't want that, what do they want? Obviously cost is the driving factor, but whether they'd want someone from the Jackson/Vitters end of the spectrum or the Baez/Vogelbach end of the spectrum is harder to tell.

[dew1679666265]

Chase Headley is pretty good. He makes absolutely zero sense for us to overwhelm San Diego for.

 

I don't understand why you think this. He's a really, really good third baseman with 3 years of team control left and is only 28. We currently have nothing in terms of above average third base production anywhere near the majors, and I'm a Vitters fan. We're hoping Stewart might be average to slightly above average, hoping the same for Vitters and then we have nothing else until Lake (if that's where he ultimately ends up).

 

I think Headley's pretty much the perfect target for us to go hard after in a trade.

[Backtobanks]

It's hard to think about what to give up because it's hard to tell what they'd want. They'd be trading an in prime star at a corner IF position with 3 years to free agency, if they don't want that, what do they want? Obviously cost is the driving factor, but whether they'd want someone from the Jackson/Vitters end of the spectrum or the Baez/Vogelbach end of the spectrum is harder to tell.

 

You replace Campana in the lineup for Rizzo and Valbuena/Stewart for Headley and suddenly it's starting to look like a ML lineup that might score some runs. Obviously any other trades have to focus on young, ready/near ready rotation pitchers.

[davell]

Chase Headley is pretty good. He makes absolutely zero sense for us to overwhelm San Diego for.

 

I don't understand why you think this. He's a really, really good third baseman with 3 years of team control left and is only 28. We currently have nothing in terms of above average third base production anywhere near the majors, and I'm a Vitters fan. We're hoping Stewart might be average to slightly above average, hoping the same for Vitters and then we have nothing else until Lake (if that's where he ultimately ends up).

 

I think Headley's pretty much the perfect target for us to go hard after in a trade.

I disagree. First, Headley has 2 years of control after this one. Yes, he's a really good player. So you're ready to trade away two of our top 100 type prospects to get him? At least, maybe even more. we're building from the ground up. I seriously doubt we take away from the prospects right now, for a major leaguer, to be honest. Maybe if it's a 25 year old or something. Not doubting Headley is an excellent player, am doubting he fits with what we're doing. I'll be very surprised if Vitters isn't given the job next year.

[A New Era]

If nothing more than the fact that He's in the Padres system. My Hoyer signal is tingling. I wouldn't be completely jaw dropped if he's not of atleast some mild interest to the new braintrust.

[dew1679666265]

You replace Campana in the lineup for Rizzo and Valbuena/Stewart for Headley and suddenly it's starting to look like a ML lineup that might score some runs. Obviously any other trades have to focus on young, ready/near ready rotation pitchers.

 

Trade for Headley (something like Jackson/Vitters/Vogelbach?) and sign Upton/Drew/Liriano/Anibal Sanchez, keep Garza, and this team could contend next year.

 

RF - DeJesus

SS - Castro

3B - Headley

1B - Rizzo

CF - Upton

2B - Drew

LF - Soriano

C - Soto

 

SP - Garza

SP - Sanchez

SP - Samardzija

SP - Liriano

SP - Wood

 

And you've not added any major/potentially crippling contracts (Sanchez/Upton likely would be 4 year deals).

Edited June 26, 2012 by dew

[Guest]

You replace Campana in the lineup for Rizzo and Valbuena/Stewart for Headley and suddenly it's starting to look like a ML lineup that might score some runs. Obviously any other trades have to focus on young, ready/near ready rotation pitchers.

 

Trade for Headley (something like Jackson/Vitters/Vogelbach?) and sign Upton/Drew/Liriano/Anibal Sanchez, keep Garza, and this team could contend next year.

 

RF - DeJesus

SS - Castro

3B - Headley

1B - Rizzo

CF - Upton

2B - Drew

LF - Soriano

C - Soto

 

SP - Garza

SP - Sanchez

SP - Liriano

SP - Maholm

SP - Wood

 

And you've not added any major/potentially crippling contracts (Sanchez/Upton likely would be 4 year deals).

 

Giving up on Shark already?

[rawaction]

Chase Headley is pretty good. He makes absolutely zero sense for us to overwhelm San Diego for.

 

I don't understand why you think this. He's a really, really good third baseman with 3 years of team control left and is only 28. We currently have nothing in terms of above average third base production anywhere near the majors, and I'm a Vitters fan. We're hoping Stewart might be average to slightly above average, hoping the same for Vitters and then we have nothing else until Lake (if that's where he ultimately ends up).

 

I think Headley's pretty much the perfect target for us to go hard after in a trade.

I disagree. First, Headley has 2 years of control after this one. Yes, he's a really good player. So you're ready to trade away two of our top 100 type prospects to get him? At least, maybe even more. we're building from the ground up. I seriously doubt we take away from the prospects right now, for a major leaguer, to be honest. Maybe if it's a 25 year old or something. Not doubting Headley is an excellent player, am doubting he fits with what we're doing. I'll be very surprised if Vitters isn't given the job next year.

 

Be ready to be surprised then, I don't think Vitters is opening 2013 in the MLB. As for Headley, I don't think anything is happening there regarding the Cubs. They'd clearly want at least 1 elite prospect if they are dealing someone they can clearly afford and can use in their lineup. I don't see the Cubs trading any of their elite prospects, and what few they have are in the low levels of the minors or haven't even played professional baseball yet.

[Vanilla Ice]

Pass on Stephen Drew

[dew1679666265]

I disagree. First, Headley has 2 years of control after this one. Yes, he's a really good player. So you're ready to trade away two of our top 100 type prospects to get him? At least, maybe even more. we're building from the ground up. I seriously doubt we take away from the prospects right now, for a major leaguer, to be honest. Maybe if it's a 25 year old or something. Not doubting Headley is an excellent player, am doubting he fits with what we're doing. I'll be very surprised if Vitters isn't given the job next year.

 

If that's the case then then I'm going to start wondering if Theo is doing what he feels is best for the organization or if he just wants to do a video game rebuild and is going to whether it's the smart thing to do or not. At least with Pujols you had the concerns over being an albatross later on because he's old, but with Headley there's no valid excuse other than we don't want to try to win for a long time. He's really good, he's right in the middle of his prime, he's relatively cheap (for his production), we have a gaping hole at third, and he has multiple years of team control even after this year. He plays really good defense, has a very good approach - he's Theo's type of player in a nutshell.

 

If they ask for something we can't give, I fully understand that (or something system-crippling). But to pass on him because we don't plan to compete until he's a FA is a self-fulfilling prophecy - we won't contend for an extended period of time because we won't add great players when they're available.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Chase Headley is pretty good. He makes absolutely zero sense for us to overwhelm San Diego for.

 

If the plan is to sign a big free agent or 2, and we can get him without giving up too much, it would be a perfect pickup. He could be a right handed middle of the order guy to compliment Rizzo.

 

Assuming the plan was to sign Upton, a 2-6 of Castro, Headley, Rizzo, and Upton looks pretty good, certainly in comparison with what we have now. Would 1 of Vitters, Szczur, and Lake plus a pitching prospect or 1 of Alcantara, Ha, Watkins, or a pitching prospect and Volstad as a throw in be enough, with a low level prospect coming our way as well?

[dew1679666265]

Giving up on Shark already?

 

Bah, had to edit once already because I forgot DeJesus. I'll kick Maholm out of the rotation.

[dew1679666265]

Pass on Stephen Drew

 

He'd be an upside signing. Add him and let him and Barney compete for the second base job (hoping Drew wins it). The other is the utility man that bounces between SS and 2B. He should come fairly cheap, but does have upside.

[dew1679666265]

Chase Headley is pretty good. He makes absolutely zero sense for us to overwhelm San Diego for.

 

If the plan is to sign a big free agent or 2, and we can get him without giving up too much, it would be a perfect pickup. He could be a right handed middle of the order guy to compliment Rizzo.

 

Assuming the plan was to sign Upton, a 2-6 of Castro, Headley, Rizzo, and Upton looks pretty good, certainly in comparison with what we have now. Would 1 of Vitters, Szczur, and Lake plus a pitching prospect or 1 of Alcantara, Ha, Watkins, or a pitching prospect and Volstad as a throw in be enough, with a low level prospect coming our way as well?

 

Headley's a switch hitter.

[davell]

My honest guess is the plan is this: Suck this year(accomplished), trade away guys who don't fit longterm, like Dempster, Soto, and Soriano(working on it). Trade Garza, if you get enough back. (yet to be determined). Add as many young players as possible to the system. (working on it and doing very well so far). Suck next year as well. Play Rizzo, Brett, Vitters, and Castillo as fulltime starters, let them absorb their growing pains in the process. See how many of them are still standing. You then have those guys, Castro, Shark, maybe Garza or something you've received in trade for him. You also have Soriano gone, a low payroll that you can probably account for his entire contract in 2013 and not have it hanging over your head. You have the WGN deal running out. You have Baez, Soler, Almora, whatever you've got in trades, Szczur, Lake, McNutt, Johnson, Blackburn, Underwood, Candelario, Hernandez, Amaya, Wells, Maples, Dunston, Vogelbach, and others in your system as high upside types that hold varying degrees of trade value. You also have the 2013 draft with a top 3 pick, plus the 2014 draft, most likely with another top 3 pick, plus 2 seasons of having among the highest IFA budgets as well. No, there probably won't be a full team of expensive FA for us to go and sign in 2014, but my guess is we start adding some bigger names then and also trade for younger, controllable star types at that point as well. Two years of complete suck, solid in 2014, maybe playoffs, but full-fledged longterm contending from 2015 on. System is stocked beyond what it ever has been and we can play some and trade others. But I think Theo wants the two years of extremely high picks and IFA budget. Gets everything rolling a lot easier. On cell, sorry for the long ass paragraph.

[dew1679666265]

I thought part of what we were getting with the Theo regime were excellent scouts who are really, really good at evaluating talent. I'm going to be really disappointed if their plan is to intentionally be really bad for at least two years and then hope that enough stars align that we can fix most of that suckage in one offseason.

 

Even if the plan is to be solid by 2014, Headley fits into that and makes that goal much, much more likely than to force Vitters into a ML role at the start of next season. I fully understand the plan was to suck this year and it seems very likely that we'll suck next year, but adding Headley now would be an incremental improvement toward being solid to good by 2014 and it gives you two full seasons to work out a long term extension with a 30 year old Headley. Outside of not being able to afford the prospects the Padres want (very realistic scenario), there's no logical reason not to very strongly pursue him.

[rawaction]

I disagree. First, Headley has 2 years of control after this one. Yes, he's a really good player. So you're ready to trade away two of our top 100 type prospects to get him? At least, maybe even more. we're building from the ground up. I seriously doubt we take away from the prospects right now, for a major leaguer, to be honest. Maybe if it's a 25 year old or something. Not doubting Headley is an excellent player, am doubting he fits with what we're doing. I'll be very surprised if Vitters isn't given the job next year.

 

If that's the case then then I'm going to start wondering if Theo is doing what he feels is best for the organization or if he just wants to do a video game rebuild and is going to whether it's the smart thing to do or not. At least with Pujols you had the concerns over being an albatross later on because he's old, but with Headley there's no valid excuse other than we don't want to try to win for a long time. He's really good, he's right in the middle of his prime, he's relatively cheap (for his production), we have a gaping hole at third, and he has multiple years of team control even after this year. He plays really good defense, has a very good approach - he's Theo's type of player in a nutshell.

 

If they ask for something we can't give, I fully understand that (or something system-crippling). But to pass on him because we don't plan to compete until he's a FA is a self-fulfilling prophecy - we won't contend for an extended period of time because we won't add great players when they're available.

 

That's the thing though. If Headley is really good, in the middle of his prime, and relatively cheap....then why do the Padres want to trade him? The likely answer would be the same as the reason the Cubs would trade Garza. It's because they only have 1 major asset to a contending team and would prefer it if they could get 2 or 3 good players (eventually) for 1 good player. As good as Headley is, the Cubs are in the same boat as the Padres. They need as many long-term solutions as possible. Sure that sucks in the short term, but it also doesn't make much sense to trade them 2-3 long-term solutions for 1 solution in Headley. The Cubs are not Headley away from competing.

[davell]

Again, the new CBA probably dictated this direction for us. For Theo to go after Headley, he has to weigh whether Headley is worth the package we have to give up to get him, plus factor in the wins, the loss of possible draft positioning, and the loss of IFA money. I think there is a decent amount of video game rebuild going on hete, so that stuff has to be considered. I'm not doubting Headley's worth, but I'm doubting he fits into our plans.

[Vanilla Ice]

We were trying to get Headley this offseason and the price was too high. I can't imagine that his price is any more acceptable to the brain trust after his start this year. I would be very surprised if we traded for him.