SAN DIEGO -- When the San Diego Padres re-acquired Chase Headley from the New York Yankees last Dec. 12, it really wasn't the third baseman the Padres were seeking to acquire.
The Padres' target was right-handed pitcher Bryan Mitchell, who general manager A.J. Preller believed would fit nicely -- and immediately -- into the Padres transitioning rotation.
Headley was the price the Padres had to pay to get Mitchell. The Padres already had a third baseman in Yangervis Solarte at the time of the trade. The Padres accepted Headley's $13 million contract for 2018 with the idea of trading one of their third basemen .