Jason Heyward is a marvelous physical specimen and is the definitive "Five Tool" player, who can Run, Field, Throw, Hit for average, and Hit for Power. He has been on the radar screen of salivating baseball scouts literally since he was ten years old. He was Minor League Player of the Year, Best Prospect on the Planet, and on and on before he was finally called up to the Atlanta Braves a few years ago.
He has had flashes of brilliance, disturbingly-frequent injuries, and generally been a pretty good Major League player as he gradually moved along to the Promised Land of free agency.
And yet when he became eligible for arbitration, the Atlanta Braves let him go. And when he became eligible for free agency, the Cardinals chose not to even try to negotiate a deal with him. What does that tell you?
And the Cubbies - apparently willing to spend themselves into perdition to build a winner - gave him an 8-year, $184 Million contract.
For what? Potential? In his first years his numbers are only a little better than average. There is no indication that he will ever hit 40 home runs, drive in 100 runs regularly, or steal 40 bases in a year. He is an excellent defensive player, but what is that worth?
If he's worth $22 million a year, what is Andrew McCutcheon worth? Mike Trout? Bryce Harper? They will have to be paid directly by the Federal Reserve.
Every General Manager in the game needed a drink the day after Heyward signed his contract. It was insanity.
He has had flashes of brilliance, disturbingly-frequent injuries, and generally been a pretty good Major League player as he gradually moved along to the Promised Land of free agency.
And yet when he became eligible for arbitration, the Atlanta Braves let him go. And when he became eligible for free agency, the Cardinals chose not to even try to negotiate a deal with him. What does that tell you?
And the Cubbies - apparently willing to spend themselves into perdition to build a winner - gave him an 8-year, $184 Million contract.
For what? Potential? In his first years his numbers are only a little better than average. There is no indication that he will ever hit 40 home runs, drive in 100 runs regularly, or steal 40 bases in a year. He is an excellent defensive player, but what is that worth?
If he's worth $22 million a year, what is Andrew McCutcheon worth? Mike Trout? Bryce Harper? They will have to be paid directly by the Federal Reserve.
Every General Manager in the game needed a drink the day after Heyward signed his contract. It was insanity.
