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Giants Rumors: San Francisco Really Wants Chase Headley

By Hayden Kane

Sep 15, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Chase Headley (12) works out with an extra face protector after getting hit by a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 15, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Chase Headley (12) works out with an extra face protector after getting hit by a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Third baseman Chase Headley is primed for a big payday in MLB free agency, with the San Francisco Giants apparently quite interested in signing him.

What we have here is the recipe for a pretty good baseball player to get seriously overpaid.

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Big market teams with money to spend are in need of a third baseman and are motivated to sign one. Teams like the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants are shopping for an everyday player at that position. At the same time, you have a market that is depressingly thin in terms of position players, with the top third baseman already having signed when Pablo Sandoval inked a deal with the Boston Red Sox.

Put it all together, and the decidedly above-average Chase Headley is going to get paid.

The former member of the Yankees and longtime San Diego Padres‘ third baseman is the only real free agent option at third base, and he is going to sign a deal accordingly. Of the teams that could use him, it sounds like the Giants are the most motivated to land him.

Ken Rosenthal reports that San Francisco is “aggressive” in their pursuit, though hopefully not inappropriately so.

Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reports something similar as the Winter Meetings fast approach:

"And the Giants have “solid” interest in third baseman Chase Headley, according to a second source. FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported San Francisco’s pursuit of Headley had turned “aggressive.”"

At one point, Headley was reportedly seeking a five-year deal. More recently it was reported that he had a four-year, $65 million deal on the table. Both are too much, but that is the reality of this market as teams seek competent bats for their lineup.

The switch-hitting Headley batted .243/.328/.372 last season. Save for a sensational 2012 in which he slashed .286/.376/.498 and slugged 31 home runs, he has been a good but not great hitter. He is a career .265/.347/.409 hitter and plays solid defense at third, a factor not to be overlooked.

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