Yankees acquire outfielder Jabari Blash from San Diego Padres
The New York Yankees today announced that they have acquired outfielder Jabari Blash from the San Diego Padres in exchange for infielder Chase Headley, right-handed pitcher Bryan Mitchell and cash considerations.
Blash, 28, made his Major League debut in 2016, and over parts of two seasons with the Padres, has batted .200 (47-for-235) with 31 runs, 8 doubles, 8 home runs, 21 runs batted in and 39 walks in 99 games.
In 2017, the right-handed batter hit .213/.333/.341 (35-for-164) with 24 runs, 6 doubles, 5 home runs, 16 runs batted in and 28 walks in 61 games. He spent the balance of the season with Triple-A El Paso, batting .285/.419/.617 (67-for-235) with 53 runs, 16 doubles, 20 home runs, 62 runs batted in and 48 walks in 72 games. He was also named a 2017 MiLB.com Organization All-Star.
Born in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Blash was originally selected by the Seattle Mariners in the eighth round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft. In eight minor league seasons, Blash has hit .260/.378/.513 (601-for-2,314) with 398 runs, 133 doubles, 140 home runs, 432 runs batted in and 392 walks in 685 games. His 106 minor league home runs over the last five seasons are tied for eighth-most in the minors in that span.
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Headley, 33, hit .273 (140-for-512) with 77 runs, 30 doubles, 1 triple, 12 home runs, 61 runs batted in and 60 walks in 147 games for the Yankees in 2017. In 501 games over parts of four seasons with the club, the switch-hitter batted .262 (458-for-1,750) with 237 runs, 85 doubles, 3 triples, 43 home runs, 191 runs batted in and 191 walks.
The Fountain, Colo., native returns to the Padres, with whom he played his first eight Major League seasons (2007-14) after being selected by the club in the second round of the 2005 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Tennessee. He was acquired by the Yankees from San Diego on July 22, 2014, in exchange for infielder Yangervis Solarte and right-handed pitcher Rafael De Paula.
Mitchell, 26, pitched in 48 games (nine starts) for the Yankees over the last four seasons (2014-17), going 2-6 with two saves and a 4.94 ERA (98.1IP, 115H, 64R/54ER, 44BB, 64K, 7HR). In 2017, he was 1-1 with one save and a 5.79 ERA (32.2IP, 42H, 24R/21ER, 13BB, 17K, 2HR) over 20 appearances (one start).
Born in Reidsville, N.C., Mitchell was the Yankees' 16th-round selection in the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
The Yankees' 40-man roster now sits at 39 players.