Chase Headley

Headley got off to a brutal start to 2016, as he hovered at or below the Mendoza Line for the first six weeks. He found a way to right the ship after that, but the end result was more of the same as the third baseman's 14 home runs, 51 RBI and .253 batting average resemble the kind of player he has been over the course of his career, save for his fluke 2012 season. The 32-year-old brought down his strikeout totals a bit, but he still whiffed in 22.3 percent of his plate appearances. It's unlikely he'll have much competition at the hot corner in the Bronx, so he figures to be in the lineup most nights again next season (he's played in at least 135 games five straight years), but at this point in his career it's fair to continue expecting more of the same. Headley lacks standout tools and has posted a 92 wRC+ in back-to-back seasons. He should continue to perform as a slightly below league-average hitter.

Headley signed a long-term deal with the Yankees following a successful second half in 2014 after a deadline deal to the Bronx, but was unable to do much better in his first season in pinstripes. Outside of an outlier MVP-caliber season in 2012, in which the third baseman hit 31 homers with a .286/.374/.498 line, Headley's 2015 numbers basically fall in line with his career averages. Though his production was about what should be expected out of him at this point, Headley's 2015 season disappointed owners who hoped the full-time move from Petco Park to Yankee Stadium would help in the power department. While it didn't have any impact for fantasy purposes, the Yankees were also disappointed with his defensive play, as the two-time Gold Glove winner committed 23 errors at the hot corner, though the lack of a viable backup kept his job relatively safe. Entering his age-32 season, it's reasonable to expect more of the same from him at the plate.

Most people that drafted Headley over the years did so with the hope that he would be traded out of Petco National Park that season and go to the Yankees. That finally happened in 2014, but you’d never know if from his statistics. Headley hit .229/.296/.355 for the Padres and .262/.371/.398 for the Yankees. The spike in OBP came from a five percentage point jump in his walk rate in the American League, but 2014 was the third time in five seasons Headley has failed to slug over .400. He also is taking up residence in Splitsville; he has hit over .250 against lefties just twice in the past six seasons and that number has declined each of the past four seasons. Re-signed by the Yankees in December, Headley could be much more productive in his first full campaign in the Bronx with improved health, but we’re still talking about a player who has had one outlier of a power season in the past six. Another 30-homer season is highly unlikely, and it might even be a surprise if he swats 20.

After driving in an NL-leading 115 RBI in 2012, Headley had a tough act to follow, and a fractured thumb sustained late in spring training didn't exactly aid in realizing similar output, as his season debut was delayed until Apr. 17. Morever, his year of misery concluded with news of a torn meniscus in his left knee, which had apparently been bothering him since March. In between, there were some positives, including a second half in which he slashed .280/.371/.458, but certain season-long marks, namely a wOBA (.330) and HR/FB rate (10.9 percent), were in line with his career numbers. If he enters 2014 with a fully healthy knee, there's no reason to believe he can't reach base more regularly or steal double-digit bases for the fifth time in six seasons, with ordinary power for a corner infielder.

It's amazing what can happen when power ends up in the hands of the right man at the right time. In 2012, Headley found that power and put it to good use as he hit a career-high 31 homers and 31 doubles. His 115 RBI were not only a career high, but led the National League as well. As for his other skills, Headley made contact 74.8 percent of the time, which is low for him, but otherwise stayed true to who he is with walk and strikeout rates within his normal range. At 29 years old, owners should not be expecting an encore performance in 2013 from Headley as there is little to suggest the power he showed in 2012 (.212 ISO after a .110 mark in 2011) is likely to carry over. The switch-hitting Headley should benefit from having the fences in right field moved in at Petco Park, however. If anything, invest in him for his speed, which has produced double-digit steals each of the last four seasons, and be happy with more moderate power.

When Headley first arrived in San Diego, he was a highly touted third-base prospect who was capable of hitting for a high average with decent power totals. While it has taken a few seasons in the majors to make the necessary adjustments, he finally found his groove in 2011 and posted a career best .289/.374/.399 slash line. With an improved 11.8 percent walk rate and an annually improving 80 percent contact rate, Headley has finally delivered the on-base numbers we saw back in the minors and is becoming more of a complete ballplayer. His minor league power may never translate in the majors due to the dimensions of Petco Park, but he should still produce everywhere else, including the continued contribution of double-digit steals.

Headley stole more bases and reduced his strikeout rate for the second season in a row, but the rest of his skills remained the same in 2010, which wasn't a good thing. He again didn't hit for average, had trouble getting on base, didn't hit for power and continued to struggle against lefties. For someone who plays third base (or any position), these aren't the best skills to have. If he can continue to reduce his strikeout rate and turn around his sliding slugging percentage, there's hope that he can become a useful fantasy asset entering his age 27 season. However, it appears that a platoon role would likely be in his and fantasy owners' best interest.

Strikeouts and power need to be correlated for hitters. If you can't make enough contact to hit .300, then you need to be able to drive the ball when you do connect. Headley hasn't been that guy, with a 25 percent strikeout rate chewing up his batting average and limiting his OBP, but just a .403 SLG in two seasons as a regular that doesn't make up for it. Throw in bad defense at a hitting position, and he's been a disappointment. If the Padres ever free up third base for him, he might hit a little better and he'd certainly field better; until then, he's someone you'll be looking to improve upon. Caveat: He's third-base eligible in most formats, so worth a late pick.

Headley's strong start at Triple-A Portland earned him a mid-June promotion. He had an odd season as he hit five homers but did not walk in his first 87 at-bats, then hitting only four more homers in his last 244 at-bats, but walking 30 times. This is the type of plate discipline Headley displayed in the minors, though his contact rate with the Padres was less than 70 percent, a mark he needs to improve as his power will become more consistent as he matures. Originally a third baseman, Headley showed surprising dexterity in left field, where he will likely spend his 2009 season. If Kevin Kouzmanoff has any issues getting healthy in time for Opening Day, Headley could spend time at the hot corner to begin the year.

The Padres love Headley and would give him the reins at third base if Kevin Kouzmanoff wasn't already there. As a result, Headley's 2008 role is uncertain. The Padres will experiment with him as an outfielder during spring training. Triple-A is also a possibility, although the Padres think the 23-year-old is ready for prime time. Headley is a solid all-around hitter; in 433 Double-A at-bats last year, he hit .330 with 20 homers, 78 RBI and 74 walks. He gained 15 pounds of muscle during the offseason and is up to 230 pounds. Headley is a very good sleeper, but watch his role during spring training.

Headley has excellent plate discipline and moderate power and was named to the High-A California League's Postseason All-Star Team after he hit .291/.389/.434 with 12 homers and 73 RBI in 484 at-bats. He was believed to be San Diego's best young third baseman until the team traded for Kevin Kouzmanoff in November, a move which considerably clouds Headley's future with the Padres.