The 5 Most Important Yankees In September

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

#5. Chase Headley

Acquired from the San Diego Padres on July 22nd, for minor leaguer Rafael DePaula and infielder Yangervis Solarte, Headley was supposed to add an upgraded bat and solid glove to a Yankees’ team that desperately needed both. It didn’t take long for Headley to make his mark in the Bronx. He arrived late for his first game, due to travel from Chicago to New York, was used as a pinch-hitter, and drove in the extra-inning walk-off game winner in his Yankees’ debut.

Headley has been the defensive upgrade the Yankees had hoped he would be. Unfortunately for the Yankees, he hasn’t been quite the upgrade with the stick that they needed. He’s only hitting .256, with 4 home runs and 12 RBI in 39 games. Questions remain whether or not he’ll ever return to form from his best season back in 2012, when he led the National League with 115 RBI, and finished 5th in MVP voting. Headley is due to hit free agency this winter, and if he wants to get his dollars back up to an elite level, he needs a monstrous September. If that happens, the Yankees could be the leader to re-sign him, and Headley would get the money he’s always believed he was worth. To see October, Chase Headley needs to increase the RBI production and keep playing Gold Glove-caliber defense.