Onward and Heyward

The Cubs added another big free agent position player as they agree with Jason Heyward on an eight-year, $184 million contract:

Heyward, an all-around player who brings a skill set the Cubs were lacking, agreed to an eight-year, $184 million contract on Friday with opt-outs, according to sources familiar with the situation, one coming after three years. The team has yet to make the signing official.

With the addition of Heyward, along with their other moves, the front office has completely transformed the offense — and team — over the last 12 months, putting the Cubs squarely in World Series contention. They already were contenders before signing Ben Zobrist, John Lackey and Heyward this offseason, but now they’re more complete than ever. No longer do the Cubs have to hope for a warm summer or for the wind to being blowing out; they now can win games in many ways, both on the mound and at the plate.

I’m amazed that Heyward accepted such a low number. Heyward averaged nearly five fWAR a year over the last three seasons. He’s in his early prime, so there shouldn’t be much decline over the next few years. I would have thought he would have received at least $30 million a year. I suspect the opt-outs are worth the lower salary.

It could also be that these players see the Cubs as the team to win the World Series in 2016. It would be cool to be a part of the end of the longest World Championship drought in baseball. That’s a very tough call at this stage of the game, however.

from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/1NU9jad