NEW YORK — Trying to boost one of the weakest lineups in the American League, the New York Yankees acquired third baseman Chase Headley from the San Diego Padres on Tuesday for rookie infielder Yangervis Solarte and minor league pitcher Rafael De Paula.
Headley was on his way to Yankee Stadium, but was not expected to arrive until just after the scheduled start of New York’s game against Texas. The Yankees hoped to have him in uniform by about 7:30 p.m. and available off the bench.
After that, he’ll become the everyday starter at a spot that’s been a question mark for New York all year following the season-long suspension of Alex Rodriguez.
“I don’t think we’re getting a big thumper,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “But I do think we’re getting an upgrade and a professional at-bat.”
The 30-year-old Headley, drafted by the Padres in 2005, can become a free agent after this season. The switch-hitter was batting .229 with seven homers and 32 RBIs but has a .339 average with six extra-base hits in 13 games since July 4. He was a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner two years ago, when he had a huge second half and hit .286 with 31 homers and an NL-leading 115 RBIs.
He moves from a cavernous ballpark in San Diego to a homer haven in the Bronx, and the Yankees think that can help him.
“You look at his last month, it’s been really productive. He’s swinging the bat pretty well,” manager Joe Girardi said. “We feel that he’s in a pretty good place.”
Cashman said he thinks an epidural injection that Headley had toward the end of June has a lot to do with his recent improvement. Headley had been playing through a herniated disk in his back.
“Once he had the epidural, it seems like it’s had a huge impact,” Cashman said.
As part of the deal, the Padres will pay $1 million of the $3,968,443 remaining on Headley’s $10,525,000 salary this year.
“I’ve seen Chase grow up,” San Diego manager Bud Black said in Chicago, where his team was preparing to play the Cubs. “To say farewell is a tough one. He’s meant a lot to the organization.”
With an injury-ravaged rotation missing four starters, New York began the day 50-48 and four games behind first-place Baltimore in the AL East. But it’s the offense that’s been a major problem — the Yankees ranked 13th out of 15 AL teams in runs with 391.
Minus first baseman Mark Teixeira (back) and catcher Brian McCann (rest), the Yankees were held to five hits in a 4-2 loss Monday night. Rangers right-hander Miles Mikolas went 7 1-3 innings after entering with a 10.05 ERA in three major league starts this season.
New York also added Brandon McCarthy to the rotation this month, obtaining him in a trade with Arizona.
“We just keep trying to find different ways to upgrade,” Cashman said. “We’re open to anything.”
The punchless Padres (43-55) are selling off pieces and trying to build for the future even as they look for a new general manager after Josh Byrnes was fired June 22. In the interim, senior vice president for baseball operations Omar Minaya and assistant general managers A.J. Hinch and Fred Uhlman Jr. are handling GM duties.
Cashman said he spoke mostly with Hinch about the Headley deal, as well as Minaya. San Diego also traded All-Star closer Huston Street to the Angels on Friday in a six-player deal that netted four minor league prospects.
The 27-year-old Solarte was an extremely pleasant surprise early in the season as Rodriguez’s replacement. The switch-hitter was batting .336 as of May 14 but has hit .180 since and was sent to Triple-A for a week this month.
“He really saved our bacon early this year. When we had a lot of other issues going on, he stepped up and for that we’re thankful,” Cashman said. “But he was a player that had to be in this situation for me to get Chase Headley back.”
Black said the Padres might play Solarte at second base.
“In the last few days, as this has been getting closer, I’ve looked at the scouting reports. I’ve called around, checked around. This guy’s a baseball player. This guy knows how to play,” Black said. “We’ll utilize him around the diamond. I like the fact that he’s versatile.”
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