The San Diego Padres have traded third baseman Chase Headly to the New York Yankees for rookie third baseman Yangervis Solarte and pitching prospect Rafael De Paula. The Yankees also received $1 million cash from the Padres. MLB.com's Spencer Fordin broke the news early Tuesday afternoon.
Headley, a switch hitter, was hitting .229 with 7 HR and 32 RBI in 77 games for the Padres, but he brings stability to a position that the Yankees have had trouble filling for the past two seasons since Alex Rodriguez's injury last year and suspension this year. Headley hit 31 home runs and drove in 115 runs for the Padres in 2012, so he has the capability of providing the Yankees some of the offense that they have lacked in the past two seasons.
Solarte, also a switch hitter, was one of the Yankees who filled in at third base, and he should get a chance to start more often in San Diego. Solarte was hitting .254 with 6 HR and 31 RBI in 74 games. He has on OBA of .337. He can also play second base and first base, making him a valuable late-inning defensive replacement when he does not start. He can move around the field to stay in games during late-inning lineup changes.
Meanwhile, the Padres also get the Yankees' 15th-ranked prospect in De Paula. The right-hander was 6-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 20 appearances for Class-A Tampa.