With a .267/.363/.423 line that looks even better on the road, 28-year-old Padres third baseman Chase Headley has drawn interest from many teams this month. Throw in team control through 2014 and you've got a hot commodity, but it appears Headley may stay put for now. The latest:
- The Padres wanted Jake Arrieta and two prospects for Headley, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports (Twitter links). After Dylan Bundy and Manny Machado, Arrieta is the young Orioles player rival teams covet most, Connolly writes. However, those clubs are trying to buy low on Arrieta. Connolly reports that one of the two prospects the Padres sought with Arrieta is a high ceiling player at Class A Delmarva.
- The Padres told clubs Sunday they'll keep Headley unless the market changes dramatically, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark. Earlier, Yahoo's Jeff Passan wrote that the Padres expect to decide today whether to keep Headley.
- The Athletics won't trade starting pitching prospect Dan Straily in a Headley deal, tweets Peter Gammons of MLB Network. Lightly regarded by prospect gurus prior to the season, the 23-year-old is in the midst of a breakout campaign and is now considered a quality pitching prospect. Still, despite leading the minor leagues in strikeouts, Straily did not crack top 50 prospects lists published by ESPN's Keith Law and Baseball America this month.
not_brooks
I would call this posturing by the Padres in an attempt to get a better return. But they did sign Street and Quentin to extensions.
All I can say for sure is that I have no idea what the Padres are doing. I guess setting themselves up for some winter deals or maybe a big deadline sale in 2013…?
LazerTown
Maybe they are trying to keep attendence up, while rebuilding. But why would you spend significant money on a closer for a bad team. There are many better ways to spend your money if you want fans.
websoulsurfer
Bad team? They have a better record than Orioles the past two months. And they did it with SIX starting pitchers on the DL.
LazerTown
There are only 4 teams with worse record so far in all of baseball. They may have had injuries, but so have other teams. Nobody expected them to be any better than 4th in the west.
websoulsurfer
Look it up. Since June 1st Padres have better record than Orioles and they did it with 6, count them, 6 starting pitchers on DL and most player days on the DL of any team in MLB.
marinest21
Web, he isn’t disputing your facts, but what weakens your argument is the fact that the season starts on April 1st, not on June 1st. Yes, the Padres have been playing remarkably well for the past two months, however that has been only half the season. For what it’s worth, most polls picked the Padres to finish no better than 3rd this year.
Additionally, the fact that they have been playing better with a predominantly makeshift rotation (Moseley, Stauffer, Luebke, and Wieland all were placed on the DL before June 1st) for the majority of this surge should also be something to look at. Who says they would have a better record if these four were healthy? IMO, the return of Quentin and the emergence of Amarista and Grandal have been the difference.
LazerTown
Fine, that still doesn’t make them a good team. The O’s have really fallen apart, after having really good luck earlier in season. The O’s aren’t a very good team either, they were streaking but are falling back to earth.
Tommy Pompo
They aren’t setting up for a 2013 deadline sale, and they aren’t just trying to keep attendance up while rebuilding. They have been rebuilding and they are setting themselves up to win next year, after having rebuilt themselves. Already the team is looking much better than the beginning of the year, and they actually have a shot at being good next year. They are only going to trade Headley for something that will help them win next year
TheReturnOfMrBlanks
I’m still hoping Headley gets traded, I don’t think this current offense is going to compete next year without more moves or signings in the offseason, but who knows what teams are offering for him. We need some OF’s and I hope we get one. If they keep him I think they should take a long hard look at moving a couple walls in and building around Quentin/Headley/Amarista/Grandal/Gyroko. Would love to see Deno/Venable/Guzman gone for next year, still not sold on Maybin and Alonzo but if they could ever move the walls in a bit it might help Alonzo’s numbers not look so basic.
websoulsurfer
Cant build around a guy that only plays about 100 games per year.
TheReturnOfMrBlanks
Brynes stated that he was a guy they were builing around….just saying
Tommy Ngo
You realize Alonso is a rookie playing at Petco?
I will say that he has held his own so far.
TheReturnOfMrBlanks
I watch every game, so yes I realize he plays at Petco. Do you guys just try to get in arguments on here or can a guy just have a opinion every now and then. Jebus
marinest21
I would build around Alonso and Maybin as well. People tend to forget they are both only 25 years old, still a lot of room for development and improvement from both of them. Yeah Maybin may be having a down year offensively, but he is only a season removed from swiping 40+ bags and he provides great defense in center field, which is imperative in Petco. Alonso is a doubles machine (tied for 10th in all of MLB) and will only hit for a higher average as he progresses. But I agree with you, move in the fences.
TheReturnOfMrBlanks
I agree with you on that, Alonzo thinks he will be a 20 plus homer guy which is nice to know he is trying to add power to his game. Watching him today play at Cinci shows what he can do out side if Petco.
Do you guys think the Pads make any moves?
marinest21
I honestly don’t think they will, however if they do I think it’ll be a minor deal, a la Gregerson for a prospect or cash. They appeared to be pretty intent on trading Headley, however if the market isn’t want they envisioned I don’t think they feel there is any pressure to move him, and frankly, I’m comfortable with that.
Like you mentioned, we have a very good core to build around. Grandal IMO is a stud and has earned the right to be the everyday catcher, hopefully he retains the starting job after coming back from injury. The rotation has been in shambles, but when Volquez, Luebke, Bass, Richard, and Stauffer are all healthy that’s not a bad quintet whatsoever Additionally, I’m excited about Amarista and if Gyorko comes up and hits at 2B, then (as we argued about last week), I do believe the MINF would be in good shape (for now) and a RF would be the missing piece.
My pipe dream? Acquiring Mike Stanton. The guy is RH’ed (ideal power hitter for Petco) and can hit the ball a country mile. Loria and the Marlins seem like they don’t care about winning again, so why not? (Haha) We’d have to give away a ton to get him, but depending on who it is, I would love to see it. One can hope.
TheReturnOfMrBlanks
I was saying that last year, I think he avged 417ft per homer, him and Upton would hold thier own at Petco, Upton was like 414 per bomb. I honesty 10000% agree with you and would trade anything for Stanton and build around him with Quentin hitting behind him, won’t ever happen but I hope for the same thing. Coach John K. on 1090 told me “I was dreamin” last year when I brought that up.
oaklandfan22
I’m starting to think that Beane doesn’t understand, that he needs to give up talent to get talent. We can’t just get talent and give up nothing. Beane needs to make a move, while all the other wild card contenders are making moves that impact their team. I wouldn’t mind us giving up several prospects for players that can impact the team NOW. We at least need a shortstop, but headley would be an upgrade over Inge. Make a move Billy, instead of sitting back and watching everyone else make moves! We have too many pitchers with straily waiting in AAA, anderson and mccarthy coming off the d.l. and Braden coming back in the near future.
not_brooks
It’s been a slow deadline, guy. Relax.
I would be shocked if Beane doesn’t do anything, but even if he doesn’t, this A’s team is playing at this level because of their pitching, and they’ll go as far as their pitching takes them.
Iconoclast17
Not really. The only reason the A’s are even in contention is they got some hitting/power for a change. The best they’ve had since 2006. Otherwise, you’d be looking at 9 Derek Barton’s and great pitching—a boring formula for 75-87.
melvin has been masterful and guys like Reddick, Cespedes and to a lesser extent Moss and early Inge have breathed new life into the A’s.
Lookouts400
C’mon, not_brookisie, you just finished watching A’s and O’s battle this weekend. You don’t think the A’s have a decent offense? Reddick, Cespedas, Crisp, and Smith make up a very good OF. Chris Carter looks like the real deal at 1B, Weeks brings speed and D at 2B, They’re hurt by not having Pennington at SS, but then again, Cliffy was only hitting 197, far below his career number and Inge has been playing well at third.
Suzuki is a good defensive catcher who has produced n the past, and Norris isn’t terrible, but needs to hit more. Moss has almost a 600 SLG. They’re far from perfect, but you telling me you wouldn’t trade the Orioles OF for the A’s OF? I would in a second. And Carter has as many HRs as Reynolds does in 220 fewer PAs and is hitting 271/386/695 but does look like he can’t catch a cold at 1B.
I don’t know about you, but it does seem to me that the A’s have a lot more going for them than a 3.45 ERA, which leads the league, BTW.
not_brooks
I never said they didn’t have a decent offense. They do, for sure. And the offense has been much better than decent over the past two months or so.
But the A’s have 10 one run wins since June 25th. And the pitching staff allowed more than three runs in just one of those 10 games.
Hitting comes and goes, especially on a young team that lacks proven hitters. You can put up 14 runs on a AAAA scrub one day and get shut out by an ace the next. But if you have consistent pitching, as the A’s have had all year, you’re always going to be in the game.
Ben Durkee
So i guess trading three all-stars doesn’t count under the trading talent to get talent thing? Calm down there guy, I’m sure he knows what he is doing.
mjnord
Beane dosen’t understand that he needs to give up talent to get talent? Are you kidding me? You’re telling me the guy who traded Mulder, Hudson, Cargo, Either, Holliday, Cahill, Gonzalez, Swisher, Bailey, etc. dosent know that he needs to give up talent to get it? Hahaha Beane knows what he is doing Headley’s price tag is too high, Escobar’s is cancer to a club house, and it dosent sound like they are willing to trade for Drew. I would love to see them upgrade at SS with all the pitching we have but its just not meant to be this trade deadline and there is no need to force a bad deal.
LazerTown
It’s the thing about operating with very small revenues. The A’s need their prospects to compete, and without them they are non-competing. Unlike other teams they often can’t compete by trading all their talent, they even struggle when their arbitration eligibles start to get up over 10M. Teams like the Yankees or Phillies can afford to make moves that will cost them more later, the A’s run on a tight budget.
Snoochies8
Really happy Beane is holding his line strong and balking at giving up Straily. That guy will be very good. Seems like fans forget that Sizemore will be back next year and 2 years of Headley < 6 years of Straily/Griffin/Choice/etc. AND 4 or 5 years of Sizemore
Iconoclast17
Headley > Sizemore, years and control aside. And, Sizemore can’t help the A’s win this year.
Snoochies8
No he can’t, much rather go for a SS than a 3B anyway. At least with a 3B we have an option for next year, with SS, unless Yordy Cabrera or Wilfredo Solano somehow miraculously decide to start hitting, we don’t really have an option for the next few years, that can hit anywhere near decently at least
mjnord
Thats why he said 2 years of Headley < 6 years of Straily/Griffin/Choice etc. AND 4 or 5 years of Sizemore. No one would ever say that Sizemore is better than Headley. Its just not worth it to give up all those guys for Headley.
Rob Lucci
What about Daniel Murphy to the A’s for some minor league pitchers?
Beersy 2
Wanted Arrieta? Did the O’s make a move I haven’t seen or have talks between the two teams totally fallen apart?
Manny Being Manny
The twitter says “Wantd”. It could mean wanted, or it could have been a typo for wants since S is right next to D. I dunno.
Manny Being Manny
Gotta think the Delmarva player is Nick Delmonico. It doesn’t surprise me that the Orioles want to hold onto him if he is the player, since he might be our #4 best prospect.
websoulsurfer
Delmonico has stunk it up this year. Think 19 year old pitcher, not a 19 year old 1B.
OrangeCards
Arrieta, Delmonico and Schoop … too much?
Bleed_Orange
Yes WAY to much, probably what was asked for.
Manny Being Manny
If it was Arrieta, Delmonico and a C level prospect, I’d do it. But not Schoop.
not_brooks
I’m on the fence on that.
On one hand, the third base market is barren and the O’s need a long term fix there. In terms of the guys who are available, Headley is the best, and he’s under control through 2014.
On the other hand, the O’s haven’t had a significant position player prospect in years, and now they have three of them in Delmonico, Schoop and Machado. Trading two of those guys would be a tough pill to swallow. Also, there’s a reason seven of eight scouts picked Arrieta first out of the O’s young starters. He’s got the stuff to succeed. O’s fans just have to hope he can figure it out. And soon…
User 4245925809
You know Jed Lowrie can play 3b. he’s a better 3b/2b than SS in fact.
Injuries are always something to worry about, but Lowrie might be cheaper than headley and he has power, from both sides of the plate that if he got 500PA, could prove pretty nice at Camden Yards.
not_brooks
I think Lowrie’s one injury away from a free ligament replacement surgery. He’s got one of those punch cards from West Houston Medical Center. He would have 10 holes punched already, but they wouldn’t let him transfer hole punches from Massachusetts General.
Considering the fact that Lowrie’s 28 and he’s never had 500 PA’s, it’s doubtful that he’ll ever get 500 PA’s.
Next…?
LazerTown
I think if Reynolds can return to form they are best sticking him him. He strikes out way too much and his average sucks, but he takes a significant amount of walks, and can get 35-40 Homers. You trade for Headley and you are looking at 20 less Hr a year, and you are giving up prospects.
I think the O’s need to figure out a few more things before they are a playoff team. They are better suited keeping their prospects until they need to make that big push. Their rotation needs much more figuring out rather than thirdbase.
I don’t think this year is their year, so a move for Headley doesnt make sense.
Lefty
Way too much… unless the Padres include Volquez and we throw in something else. The other problem is I really don’t want to trade for Headley unless we get Morneau. Reynolds is driving me crazy!
Plus, since Joe Jordan is with the Phillies and you know that, so he might be asking for Delmonico in return for Blanton. If not Delmonico, I know the Phillies will ask for someone Jordan had a hand in drafting and is familiar with. I know I might be the only one who wants Morneau, but I really mean it when I say, I don’t want Headley unless we resolve 1st base as well.
websoulsurfer
Too little. WAY too little. And Padres not interested in Arrieta. 26 year old wash out.
OrangeCards
Did you not read the post? It specifically mentioned that the Padres wanted Arreita.
LazerTown
Who reads? TBH he is WAY too high on Headley.
John
NO ! Chase Headley not that good in my book! Jake and two other no thank you
discollama
Headley is fantastic, but his home park suppresses his bat significantly. His defense is superb and if he just played in a neutral hitters park I’d bank on him for a .280-.290 20+ HR 15-20 SB line. Put him in Camden, and he could be even better. He’s got the ability to be a middle of the order bat any where outside of SD.
websoulsurfer
Bank on .300/.850 from Headley in AL East parks.
websoulsurfer
Headley is the third or fourth best 3B in MLB. A Proven commodity is worth more than any AA prospect.
OrangeCards
3rd or 4th best based on what? I’m missing something.
LazerTown
I can count at least 8 that I would rather have, and that is without digging too deeply. He is a decent player, but is not the top at his position.
CNichols
what 8 would you rather have? His WAR is above 3, good for 2nd best among 3rd basemen. His OBP is great and he plays very solid D. He’s controllable until 2014, and relatively cheap. His splits away from Petco show that he’ll probably hit 25 HR and drive in over a hundred if he gets moved. Whats not to like? Its pretty much an accepted fact that he’s top 5 in the league
mlbscout6
Miguel Cabrera, David Wright, Pablo Sandoval, Evan Longoria, Brett Lawrie, Adrian Beltre. Arguements can be made for Zimmerman, A-Rod, and Middlebrooks as well.
CNichols
Honestly i think Sandoval and Beltre are stretches. I’ll agree with the other 4. Regardless Headley has a very complete game and is very well rounded. He might not be a superstar, but his game doesn’t have any weaknesses. There wouldn’t be this kind of hype around the league if he wasnt a very good player
LazerTown
Can also throw Youk and Hanley in the mix too. Both are having down years, but can both be just as valuable or in Hanley’s case more valuable.
Headley isn’t bad, its just there are so many 3B on his level. If you wanted a 3B Youk was the way to go, or talk to the Brewers about Aramis. Even Hanley had way more potential than Headley.
LazerTown
I think that Beltre and Sandoval are all about equal to Headley. I also think that Middlebrooks, Youkilis (Was rough in Boston, but turning it around in Chicago); are about equal value (Middlebrooks has way more trade value though) Moustakas may get equal in ~ a year. Hanley is another wildcard, I think he was just done in Miami, and is actually turning it around with dodgers, and if returns to form is much better than Headley.
I don’t think that Headley is bad, it’s just that 3rd is a crowded position.
LazerTown
You keep saying that, but he hasn’t proven that he is the 3rd or 4th best in mlb. He really doesn’t have the power to be a big hr threat. 3B has traditionally been a pretty good offensive position. The Padres are really pricing themselves out of it because he is a adequate player, but is not a superstar.