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New York Yankees: Is Chase Headley on the hot seat?

By Phil Akre |
Sep 21, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Chase Headley (12) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Chase Headley (12) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

After a hot start to the season, New York Yankees third baseman Chase Headley has fallen victim to a rough slump. With the promotion of top prospect Gleyber Torres to Triple-A, should Headley be feeling any pressure?

Remember when Chase Headley hit .301 in the month of April and looked to be one of the Yankees’ best players?

I do, too. However, that version of Headley is long, long gone. Through 17 games in May, the third baseman has hit just .154.

Should we be surprised, though? For most of his Yankees career Headley has just been OK. He finished last season with a .253 average and 51 RBI. Certainly not bad numbers, but nothing great.

With the recent promotion of super-prospect Gleyber Torres, Headley should certainly feel some pressure.

Torres, the 20-year-old phenom acquired in the Aroldis Chapman deal, has virtually torn up every level of the minor leagues. With just 32 Double-A games under his belt and a .273 average, Yankees brass felt he was ready for the final step in the minor leagues.

If he continues to excel in the minors, what’s stopping him from being called up before summer’s end?

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Headley’s mediocre production won’t stop the Yankees from calling up Torres, someone who most in baseball believe will have a solid major league career.

If the Yankees continue to roll and play the part of a contender, would they ship out Headley at the trade deadline to make room for Torres?

That remains to be seen, but it isn’t out of the question given the team’s newfound trust in their youngsters.

One similar example is how the team shipped out Brian McCann after Gary Sanchez‘s red-hot start last season.

Pressure is certainly something Headley has felt before, as Miguel Andujar, another infield prospect, is inching closer to the major leagues.

Next: A new ace for the Yankees?

We shouldn’t be surprised to see Torres in the major leagues at some point this season. The Yankees might have baseball’s next big thing, as the infielder is just a 20-year-old and he hasn’t looked fazed by any older competition.

Chase Headley, look out.

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