According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the market for third baseman Chase Headley is heating up, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are one of seven teams who are likely suitors. Heyman mentions the Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Orioles, Indians, and at least two other teams as the other teams who could be in on Headley.
We’ve heard the Pirates linked to Headley before. Kevin Creagh looked at his trade value last month, noting that he would cost $19.6 M in value.
Headley has a lot of value because he’s under team control through the 2014 season. A team that added him would be adding him for two and a half years, rather than just a normal summer rental. His value could be higher if teams pay for what he could do outside of Petco Park, rather than his lower numbers in Petco this year.
I wrote last month how Headley was the perfect fit for the Pirates. The recap of that theory:
**The Pirates need offense, and Headley puts up good offensive numbers outside of Petco Park.
**The Pirates could definitely use another option at third base in the event that the recent hot streak from Pedro Alvarez doesn’t last.
**Headley is better as a left-handed hitter, which fits well with PNC Park.
**He gets on base at a great rate, which is an area where the Pirates are weak.
**He’s under control for multiple years, so giving up prospects wouldn’t just be for a rental.
That was back when Alvarez first started his recent hot streak, which has continued in to July. It was when the team was only hitting for a few weeks in June. However, as I mentioned in the article, I’m not sure I’d deal one of the top prospects to get Headley. Dealing someone like Starling Marte wouldn’t make sense, as Marte is close to providing short-term and long-term production. I wouldn’t deal Alen Hanson, since a shortstop prospect with his bat is rare.
In the article I said I wouldn’t give up any of the top seven prospects for Headley, but that I would give up any three prospects from the remaining prospects in the system to get a deal done.
