Yankees sign third baseman Chase Headley to a four-year contract

The New York Yankees today announced they have signed switch-hitting 3B Chase Headley to a four-year contract extending through the 2018 season.

Headley, 30, was acquired by the Yankees along with cash considerations from the San Diego Padres in exchange for INF Yangervis Solarte and RHP Rafael De Paula on July 22, 2014. In 58 games with the Yankees, he hit .262 (50-for-191) with 28R, 8 doubles, 6HR and 17RBI.  

In his Yankees debut on July 22 vs. Texas, Headley hit a 14th-inning "walk-off" single, becoming the first player with a "walk-off" hit in his first game with the club since Roy Weatherly in April 1943 according to the Elias Sports Bureau. It was the first of three Yankees "walk-off" wins to end in a Headley at-bat (also a home run on September 4 vs. Boston and a fielding error on September 18 vs. Toronto).

The Fountain, Colo., native began the 2014 season with the Padres, batting .229 (64-for-279) with 27R, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 7HR and 32RBI in 77 games.
 
In 966 career games over parts of eight Major League seasons with the Padres (2007-14) and Yankees (2014), Headley has hit .265 (923-for-3,477) with 426R, 194 doubles, 13 triples, 93HR and 418RBI, while appearing in games at third base (731), left field (196) and first base (nine). He has collected at least one hit in 33 different Major League ballparks in his career, including each of the 30 current stadiums.

In 2012, Headley earned his first career Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards as a third baseman, batting .286 (173-for-604) with 95R, 31 doubles, 2 triples, 31HR and an NL-leading 115RBI in 161 games with the Padres. His .976 fielding percentage as a third baseman was second-highest in the NL (424TC, 10E).
 
Headley was originally selected by the Padres in the second round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft. He owns a .967 career fielding percentage at third base (1,822TC, 60E), the best mark among active Major Leaguers at the position.