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Yanks trade for new starting 3B

 
Chase Headley is batting .229 this season but has been on a hot streak, with a .339 average in 13 games since July 4.
Chase Headley is batting .229 this season but has been on a hot streak, with a .339 average in 13 games since July 4.
Published July 23, 2014

NEW YORK — Trying to boost one of the weakest lineups in the American League, the Yankees acquired 3B Chase Headley from the Padres on Tuesday for rookie INF Yangervis Solarte and minor-league RHP Rafael De Paula.

Headley arrived at Yankee Stadium right around game time Tuesday night and was in uniform shaking hands with his new teammates in the dugout during the top of the second inning. Before the game, New York manager Joe Girardi said he hoped Headley would be available off the bench.

After that, he'll become the starter at a spot that has been a question mark for the Yankees after the seasonlong suspension of Alex Rodriguez.

"I don't think we're getting a big thumper," GM Brian Cashman said. "But I do think we're getting an upgrade and a professional at-bat."

Headley, 30, can become a free agent after this season. The switch-hitter was batting .229 with a .296 on-base percentage and a .355 slugging percentage but has a .339 average with six extra-base hits in 13 games since July 4. Two years ago, he had a huge second half and hit .286/.376/.498.

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," Girardi said. "We feel that he's in a pretty good place."

A'S LEASE: After months of wrangling and public spats, the Oakland A's and the city they have called home for nearly a half-century agreed to a lease extension that could keep the team at O.co Coliseum through 2024.

BLUE JAYS: RHP Aaron Sanchez, one of the team's top prospects, was called up from Triple-A Buffalo to help boost the bullpen.

CUBS: 2B Darwin Barney, the team's opening day starter, was designated for assignment to make room for INF Emilio Bonifacio's return from the disabled list.

RANGERS: C Geovany Soto returned to the 15-day disabled list after three games because of a strained right groin muscle.

ROCKIES: All-Star SS Troy Tulowitzki went on the 15-day disabled list with a left hip flexor strain, three days after he left a game with what was described as a cramp.