Chase Headley rumors: Padres 'destined' to lose 3B in free agency

The Padres have attempted to extend Headley, but since nothing has been decided, the open market "looms."

San Diego isn't Los Angeles.

A lot of people in the city probably like that about their hometown, but for the baseball team, it can be something of a hindrance on the way they do business. They can't throw huge sums of money at their players in order to keep them around. They simply don't have the same contingency as the Dodgers and Angels do in their budget.

Chase Headley is set to become a free agent after the 2014 season, and although the Padres made a "quiet" attempt to extend him this offseason, they do not appear likely to hang on to him for the future.

According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the two sides are not currently discussing an extension.

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Headley, followed up his breakout 2012 season with a somewhat disappointing 2013, finishing the year with just 13 home runs, 50 runs batted in, and an OPS more than 100 points lower than he posted the year before.

In addition to the power numbers Headley put up in 2012, he won the NL Gold Glove at third base and finished fifth in MVP balloting. With that on his resume, he'll likely be able to garner some considerable multiyear deals in free agency next winter, and the Padres could be resigned to recouping a lone draft pick if they extend him the qualifying offer.

San Diego also could attempt to trade Headley, which might be a preferable option for the 29-year-old. If he is moved during the season, he won't be eligible to receive the qualifying offer next November. Although he might not experience the same kind of open market stalemate that Stephen Drew and Ervin Santana have this offseason, he could still benefit financially from remaining untethered to draft compensation. Teams will be more willing to offer him lucrative deals if their investment isn't penalized by the loss of a draft pick.

If San Diego moves on from Headley, they could opt to move Jedd Gyorko to third base, and use Alexi Amarista at second.