Even if he actually took less, I wouldn't be surprised: Contract is probably front-loaded, so I guess over the first couple of years he isn't really leaving much money on the table if any at all. In return he gets another shot at free agency at age 29 if he opts out, so if salaries go up or he excels offensively and improves his numbers, he might score even bigger next time around.
In return he gets to play for the Cubs the next three years, a team that should be a serious contender in all those 3 years because pretty much their whole team is under contract for another two years. Besides probably doesn't make much difference for him if he earns 185 or 200mio over the next 8 years, guy should be settled for life either way.
In return he gets to play for the Cubs the next three years, a team that should be a serious contender in all those 3 years because pretty much their whole team is under contract for another two years. Besides probably doesn't make much difference for him if he earns 185 or 200mio over the next 8 years, guy should be settled for life either way.
Uh. Wrong. Perfect player for the Cubs. Tremendous defensive value and a very good top of the order hitter with a great OBP who is perfect batting in front of the Cubs power hitters.
He he did take less money so the two teams that offered more disagree with you as well.
Tremendous us deal for the Cubs.
Fits great with the Cubs, but agree with Chop that they overpaid. He has very good speed and you cant argue with his defensive skills, but his offensive numbers are exaggerated in my opinion, don't see all the buzz. He had a great first year (.277 .393 .456), but after that for the last five years he has been a .270 hitter, .350 OBP for the last 3 seasons while slugging on average somewhere around .420... all while hitting 20+HRs just once.
His offensive numbers aren't much better than Fowler, very comparable OBP & SLG numbers.
He probably has potential to hit better (see his rookie numbers), but even though those are more than decent numbers and he had b2b 20SB seasons with a great success rate, I don't think they warrant that kind of money. Just hope that the Cubs at least have a buyout like Heyward has the option to opt out...
Just take a look at Gordon, another gold glove outfielder: He is a bit worse defensively, still a great defensive outfielder though. Offensively, he hits for a slightly better avg, slightly better obp and better slugging percentage. He gives you less SB/speed on the bases, but not sure that's worth that much considering that either guy would be hitting before Bryant/Rizzo. And Gordon should come way cheaper, with a shorter contract. Yes, he's older but still young enough that his play shouldn't fall off a cliff anytime soon.
And they could have used the difference in salary to add a good bullpen arm or a large part for another SP...because after all it's not really their offense, that seems to be the possible weak spot...if you take the total value of the contract (8yrs/184mio), you might even argue that it made more sense to invest that kind of money into 5yrs of each, an OF like Gordon and a SP like Chen (former Orioles). Because during that span all your young guns like Rizzo, Bryant, Russell, Baez, Soler and pitchers like Rondon, Grimm, Ramirez, Warren and Lester will be under contract/team control. 4-5years from now, if they all pan out like it looks now, the Cubs won't be able to extend them all.
So great fit, yes. Upgrade in their OF, without a question. Just not sure if you couldn't have found more value by spreading the money around between a different OF and a decent pitcher, underrated pitcher like Chen or Iwakuma.
His offensive numbers aren't much better than Fowler, very comparable OBP & SLG numbers.
He probably has potential to hit better (see his rookie numbers), but even though those are more than decent numbers and he had b2b 20SB seasons with a great success rate, I don't think they warrant that kind of money. Just hope that the Cubs at least have a buyout like Heyward has the option to opt out...
Just take a look at Gordon, another gold glove outfielder: He is a bit worse defensively, still a great defensive outfielder though. Offensively, he hits for a slightly better avg, slightly better obp and better slugging percentage. He gives you less SB/speed on the bases, but not sure that's worth that much considering that either guy would be hitting before Bryant/Rizzo. And Gordon should come way cheaper, with a shorter contract. Yes, he's older but still young enough that his play shouldn't fall off a cliff anytime soon.
And they could have used the difference in salary to add a good bullpen arm or a large part for another SP...because after all it's not really their offense, that seems to be the possible weak spot...if you take the total value of the contract (8yrs/184mio), you might even argue that it made more sense to invest that kind of money into 5yrs of each, an OF like Gordon and a SP like Chen (former Orioles). Because during that span all your young guns like Rizzo, Bryant, Russell, Baez, Soler and pitchers like Rondon, Grimm, Ramirez, Warren and Lester will be under contract/team control. 4-5years from now, if they all pan out like it looks now, the Cubs won't be able to extend them all.
So great fit, yes. Upgrade in their OF, without a question. Just not sure if you couldn't have found more value by spreading the money around between a different OF and a decent pitcher, underrated pitcher like Chen or Iwakuma.
does not matter if he is perfect or not. Still not worth the money they paid.
He is perfectly capable of reverting back to pre 2015 numbers and if he does it's a horrible contract.
Only way Cubs come out on this deal is if he matches or exceeds his 2015 season which was a career year year every season of the contract.
This is te same player the cards put at the back of the batting order in early May and almost benched him then he finally got hot in June.
So they make a guy that almost got benched in May one of the highest paid players in baseball?
A player that the Braves could not wait to trade trade less then 365 days ago ?
So they make a guy that almost got benched in May one of the highest paid players in baseball?
A player that the Braves could not wait to trade trade less then 365 days ago ?
That something turned out to be quite a lot by the way, after the Shelby Miller trade...basically traded 1yr of Heyward when they were in rebuilding mode already for a top pitching prospect, a decent major league ready, speedy outfielder who is well above average defensively plus the #1 draft pick...
Overrated
Would def. go with the over: Even though he went under for the last two seasons, he had been over for his first 4 seasons in the majors and def. has some power. Last year with 13 stayed also barely under, while he twice went barely over with 14 but in both season he missed significant time (396 & 382 AB).
If he hits leadoff or at least in one of the top2 spots in the Cubs lineup, he should get around 600AB (Fowler finished with 596AB) which would give him an extra 50+ ABs compared to last season. Plus you should take into account, that he moves to Wrigley Field for his homegames. Looking at ESPNs ballpark factor stats Wrigley finished at 1.276 for Homeruns, 3rd highest value in the league, while Busch finished 23rd at 0.857. So a more HR/friendly homepark should help him push his HR total over, unless he gets hurt.
If he hits leadoff or at least in one of the top2 spots in the Cubs lineup, he should get around 600AB (Fowler finished with 596AB) which would give him an extra 50+ ABs compared to last season. Plus you should take into account, that he moves to Wrigley Field for his homegames. Looking at ESPNs ballpark factor stats Wrigley finished at 1.276 for Homeruns, 3rd highest value in the league, while Busch finished 23rd at 0.857. So a more HR/friendly homepark should help him push his HR total over, unless he gets hurt.
uh. Not wrong
It was one of the greatest trades in baseball history. We might have got a future HOFer for Heyward . Unreal trade that basically got Tony Larussa fired from the DBacks last month
