New York could buy low on Chase Headley to improve its third base situation
According to Fox Sports' Jon Morosi, the Yankeesare scoutingPadres third baseman Chase Headley "regularly." Over the last week or so we've heard that the Yankees are targeting, almost exclusively, starting pitching, so this is the first instance of the team, publicly, targeting a bat.
Headley is in the midst of a career-worst season at the plate, hitting (entering last night's play) .204/.293/.327 with an 81 wRC+ through 61 games. Following his 2012 season, which saw him hit to a 145 wRC+, leading to a fifth-place finish in the NL MVP voting, Headley has battled inconsistencies and injuries (thumb in 2013, calf in 2014), which have hindered his performance considerably in the two years since his breakout campaign.
A free agent after the season, Headley could be an upgrade over the Yankees' current third base situation if he can even reclaim his 2013 form (113 wRC+). The Yangervis Solarte magic has appeared to run out and Kelly Johnson really hasn't proven to be anything more than a bench player; acquiring a guy with actual upside like Headley could give the weak Yankees' offense a jolt. If the cost is low (ie: none of the team's top prospects), it might be worth a shot.
Then again, it'd take more than just a rebound from Headley to get the Yankees above mediocrity: a new second baseman, right fielder, two starting pitchers, and even a reliever, would still be in order.