Chase Headley will reportedly sign with a new team by the end of the week.
Free-agent third baseman Chase Headley is expected to make a decision on his next destination by the end of this week's Winter Meetings, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Headley is garnering interest from the Giants and Yankees, who are believed to be the frontrunners for the third baseman's signature, as well as the Marlins. Last week, reports surfaced that some team had already offered Headley a four-year, $65 million contract, though the eight-year veteran is still waiting to make his decision.
The 30-year-old Headley batted .243/.328/.372 in 135 games for the Padres and Yankees last season. After arriving in New York prior to July's trade deadline, he hit .262/.371/.398 with six home runs in 224 plate appearances. His defense at third base has long drawn rave reviews, and Headley is just two years removed from batting .286/.376/.498 with 35 home runs for San Diego in 2012.
While that breakout campaign stands out as an outlier in Headley's career, it's clear his bat likely has more to give away from the pitcher's paradise of Petco Park. Add in his stellar defense and consistent health, and Headley looks to be solid value compared to the lucrative contract that Boston gave Pablo Sandoval.
The Giants, then, could be in a good position to land Headley and fill the void Sandoval left at the hot corner. Whether their pursuit of Jon Lester changes the club's plans on Headley remains to be seen, however.
Although the Yankees expect Alex Rodriguez back in 2015, they might give him some time at first base and DH, making Headley an option for them as well. How much Yankees GM Brian Cashman is willing to pay Headley is a bigger question, with the Yanks already showing signs this offseason that four years for the third basemen might be too big of a commitment in their eyes.