#VFL Chase Headley has agreed to a four-year contract with the New York Yankees, as announced by the club and Major League Baseball on Monday. The deal secures Headley as the Yankees' primary third baseman through the 2018 season.
Having spent seven and a half seasons with the San Diego Padres (2007-14), who drafted Headley in the second round of the June 2005 Draft, the former Tennessee All-American was traded to the Yankees on July 22, 2014. In his first career appearance in the Bronx, he hit a walkoff single to push his new team ahead of the Texas Rangers, 2-1.Â
"There is a lot of talent on this roster," Headley told MLB.com. "When you go around the diamond and you look at the players we have, there's a tremendous background. There are guys that played well last year and will continue to play well for the foreseeable future."
Headley hit .262 with a .398 slugging percentage in 58 games for New York in 2014. Following his July 22 trade, he held a .371 on-base percentage, the fifth-best mark among Major League third baseman during that span. On the year, Headley combined to produce 13 homers and 49 RBI in his 135 total games between San DIego and New York.
While playing for the Vols from 2004-05, Headley helped Tennessee to their most-recent College World Series appearance while taking the SEC batting title in 2005 with a .387 batting average. He hit 14 home runs in 2005 and his disciplined 63 walks that season still stand as the most by an individual player in a single season at UT. An excellent student-athlete, the Colorado native also became the fifth baseball player at Tennessee to earn first-team Academic All-American honors.
Here are a few of the latest articles on Headley and his new deal with the Yankees:
- USAToday: Yankees sign Chase Headley to four-year deal
- New York Post: How Chase Headley perfectly embodies the 2015 Yankees
- New York Times: Yankees end competition at third base before it begins
- ESPN.com: Yankees sign 3B Chase Headley
- ESPN.com: Chase Headley: I (heart) New York!
- ESPN.com (Insider): Law: Chase Headley a solid re-sign for Yankees
- CBSSports.com: Yankees make wise move in re-upping with Chase Headley
- Associated Press: Yankees finalize deal with Chase Headley for insurance at third
