It's time we talked about Chase

In the comments sections, one of you guys recently nailed the essence of Chase Jordan Headley: It's how he shakes his head, grimacing, as he trots back to the dugout after a popup. He's not faking it. He really wanted to deliver a hit. It didn't work. So sad. So... sad... sad... sad...

In May, he'll turn 33. We have him for two more seasons at $13 million per. He's not getting better. After a near MVP year in San Diego, way back in 2011, Chase has settled into a comfortable orbit somewhere out there between Saturn and your anus: Over the last four seasons, he's never hit more than 14 HRs or .259. Among MLB third basemen, he ranks 19th in BA, 15th in OBP and 22nd in HRs - tied with Adonis Garcia, (whom we jettisoned as an OF,) and behind Yangervis Solarte - (15 HR, 71 RBI, whom we originally traded for Headley), and Eduardo Nunez, (whom we traded to Minnesota for the great single A pitcher Miguel Sulbaran.) That's not to mention the most intriguing 3B of the bunch - Ronald Torreyes - whose plucky at bats all season only gave more cause for Chase to shake his head and grimace. So... sad.

Can you imagine Trump browbeating Hal Steinbrenner in a debate over who should own the Yankees. "YOU GAVE UP GARCIA! YOU GAVE UP SOLARTE! YOU GAVE UP NUNEZ! YOU'RE PAYING THIS GUY THIRTEEN MILLION! THIRTEEN MILLION! HOW STUPID CAN YOU BE? THIRD BASE IS A DISASTER! NOBODY HITS! NOBODY SCORES! YOU CAN'T RUN DOWN TO THIRD WITHOUT GETTING SHOT!"

(Where have you gone George Steinbrenner, our nation turns it's lonely eyes to you.)

Of course, we got Headley - in part - for his smooth glove. Among third basemen, he ranks 6th in fielding percentage with only 10 errors. (Garcia made 17 - which means he's not really an alternative, and Solarte and Nunez both played multiple positions.) On a great Yankee team, he'd be Scott Brosius, and all would be forgiven. On a team that struggles to score three runs - well - it's not okay.

The Yankee 3B malaise has gone on since Greg Nettles arrived from Cleveland, and at this point, I wonder if I'll see a remedy in my lifetime. I mean, it's been a horror show; we even tried Kevin Youkilis.

Still, two more years of Headley? Dear God. Shoot me now. I've seen enough. They can move Starlin Castro - he certainly has the arm - but what about 2B? They've clearly decided Rob Refsnyder is no infielder, which sort of kills his career. We have a 3B dude in Double A: 21-year-old Miguel Andujar, whose $750,000 bonus topped our 2011-12 international signings. In nearly 290 at bats at Trenton, Andujar hit .266 with 2 HRs. Not exactly Manny Machado - but hey, he's young for the league. Andujar supposedly has a gun: They claim he can throw a 95-mph fastball, so if he doesn't start hitting... oh, fukkit... but that's what they say.

What to do about Headley? Jeez, I dunno. I like the guy, but would love to see him gone. I just can't take any more sad faces. And the legacy of rented Yankees - guys like Headley, McCann, and Ellsbury - could be Hal's future reluctance to sign even middling free agents - he's already sworn off the big name auctions. Now, he has reason to avoid everybody. And I almost don't blame him.

So here's the best deal I can imagine: We play Headley another year - another nerdy season - and hope Andujar shows a sign of life, moves up to Scranton. If he doesn't, well - we'll think of something. Maybe we can move Castro and wait for Gleyber Torres and/or Jorge Mateo to play 2B. It's a grim thought - another year of Headley. But realistically, what else can we expect? So sad.