Former first-rounder Jeffress gets 2nd shot with Brewers

MILWAUKEE -- Hat turned backward, Jeremy Jeffress grinned, leaned back and enjoyed the view from the Milwaukee Brewers' dugout.

The former first-round pick is relishing a chance to stick in the majors with the team that drafted him in 2006. Milwaukee called up the right-hander from Triple-A Nashville this week to help bolster the bullpen.

Jeffress has been suspended twice for violating the minor league drug policy, which he has said was for marijuana use. He has also suffered from debilitating seizures.

Now, the new father describes himself as being "in a very good place."

"I have a little girl now, 5 1/2 months old. I'm very clean and sober. I've been very well," Jeffress said.

Selected 16th overall in 2006, Jeffress has had an unexceptional major league career so far.

Jeffress is 3-1 with one save and a 4.47 ERA in 50 games, playing in parts of five seasons with the Brewers, Royals and Blue Jays. He might be best known for his inclusion in the six-player deal that brought ace Zack Greinke from Kansas City to Milwaukee in December 2010.

Jeffress had a 10.80 ERA in three innings with Toronto early this season before declining a minor league assignment April 16. He signed a minor league deal two days later with Milwaukee.

General manager Doug Melvin drafted Jeffress eight years ago. Jeffress considers his return to Milwaukee a homecoming.

"They stuck with me for a long time," he said. "I never thought I would be back. ... I know my time here was a great experience. It was home for me."

A low point came about two years ago when he was toiling in the minors and thought about quitting the game. At one point, he had a seizure on a plane during a road trip.

The seizures, Jeffress said, typically happened in the mornings. Doctors didn't know what was causing them until he spent a week at Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo, where he suffered a seizure during his stay.

He was put on an extended-release medication that has helped control the seizures.

In the Milwaukee bullpen, Jeffress will be relied upon to add a power-throwing presence in the bullpen. He had 45 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings in the minors while walking 18.

Jeffress is ready for any role assigned by manager Ron Roenicke.

"He's always got to make sure he's doing the right things," Roenicke said. "Hopefully that's what we see here."

Yankees get Headley from Padres

Trying to boost one of the weakest lineups in the American League, the New York Yankees acquired third baseman Chase Headley from the San Diego Padres on Tuesday for rookie infielder Yangervis Solarte and minor league pitcher Rafael De Paula.

Headley arrived at Yankee Stadium about game time Tuesday and was in uniform shaking hands with his new teammates in the dugout during the top of the second. Before the game, New York manager Joe Girardi said he hoped Headley would be available off the bench.

After that, he'll become the everyday starter at a spot that's been a question mark for the Yankees all year after the season-long suspension of Alex Rodriguez.

"I don't think we're getting a big thumper," general manager Brian Cashman said. "But I do think we're getting an upgrade and a professional at-bat."

The 30-year-old Headley, drafted by the Padres in 2005, can become a free agent after this season. The switch-hitter was batting .229 with seven homers and 32 RBIs but has a .339 average with six extra-base hits in 13 games since July 4. He was a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner two years ago, when he had a huge second half and hit .286 with 31 homers and an NL-leading 115 RBIs.

He moves from a cavernous ballpark in San Diego to a homer haven in the Bronx, and the Yankees think that can help him.

"You look at his last month, it's been really productive. He's swinging the bat pretty well," Girardi said. "We feel that he's in a pretty good place."

Cashman said he thinks an epidural injection that Headley had in late June has a lot to do with his recent improvement. Headley had been playing with a herniated disk in his back.

"Once he had the epidural, it seems like it's had a huge impact," Cashman said. "He's a rental for the next two months."

As part of the deal, the Padres will pay $1 million of the $3,968,443 remaining on Headley's $10,525,000 salary this year.

Tulowitzki goes on DL

Major league batting leader Troy Tulowitzki has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Colorado Rockies because of a left hip flexor strain.

The 29-year-old All-Star shortstop was hurt while running out a grounder at Pittsburgh on Saturday night. He was held out of the next two games before being placed on the disabled list, retroactive to Sunday.

This is Tulowitzki's first trip to the disabled list this season. He is hitting .340 and is third in the NL with 21 home runs.