The top free agent outfielder Jason Heyward has reportedly agreed to make Wrigley Field his new home. Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman have since confirmed Heyward is headed to the Cubs. The 26-year-old Heyward is likely looking for a huge contract and it’s been rumored he’s searching for a deal that is close to 10 years. The Washington Nationals reportedly offered Heyward $200 million and if that’s true, it means Heyward took less in order to play on the North Side.
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The Braves traded their hometown, homegrown outfielder to the Cardinals in November 2014, with St. Louis viewing it as a one-year recruiting pitch for Heyward and seeing him as the next core player for an 11-time world champion.
Other teams bidding for Heyward’s services were the Cardinals and Nationals. They’ll receive a first-round draft pick as compensation for losing Heyward to free agency, but that probably won’t make him choosing their NL Central rivals sting any less in the short term.
Heyward joins the versatile Ben Zobrist as the Cubs’ big offseason splashes and will be a centerpiece in a Chicago lineup that already features top-flight young talent in Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber and Anthony Rizzo. 293 batting average last season, but he practically gave up hitting flyballs (19.3 percent rate) to achieve it. Either that doesn’t bode well for him to grow into 20-plus home run power or he will rediscover power at the expense of his batting average.
In Heyward, the Cubs get a 26-year-old outfielder with three Gold Gloves, a career. The deal includes two opt-outs – after the third year and the fourth, if he exceeds a plate-appearance threshold.
Heyward earned his millions in part on the strength of his defense, which consistently ranks among the best in the game in the outfield. Heyward also might bat leadoff, a role he fulfilled hitting.
Information from MLB, St. Louis Cardinals and Telegraph staff.
The Tampa Bay Rays were said to be dealing with Chicago for Javier Baez, but that talk cooled off after the Castro trade.
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Now that he’s helped Heyward land probably the largest contract of any position player this winter, he can strategically ensure Gordon and Fowler sign lucrative deals, too.
