LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Yankees traded third baseman Chase Headley and pitcher Bryan Mitchell and $500,000 to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, giving New York added payroll flexibility and room for infield prospects.
New York received 28-year-old outfielder Jabari Blash, who made his big league debut in 2016 and has played in 99 big league games over two seasons.
A day after finalizing its acquisition of NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton from Miami, the Yankees dealt with their infield logjam and cut their payroll to about $167 million for luxury tax purposes. Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner is intent on getting under the $197 million tax threshold next year, and New York still may attempt to re-sign left-hander CC Sabathia or add another starting pitcher.