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Jason Heyward chooses not to opt-out of Cubs deal that still owes him $100M

Liz Roscher
Staff writer

Jason Heyward isn’t walking away from more than $100 million. According to the Chicago Sun Times, the outfielder let the opt-out deadline pass for his contact with the Chicago Cubs and will stay with the team for at least another year.

The opt-out is part of the eight-year, $184 million contract Heyward, 29, signed with the Cubs in 2016. He has five years and $106 million left on the deal.

The decision to decline the opt-out was probably a no-brainer for Heyward, though many on the North Side were hoping he would walk away from all that money. Despite the Cubs’ early exit from the playoffs in 2018, the team is still poised to compete in 2019 and beyond. Staying with them gives him a good shot at winning a second World Series ring, and possibly more. And he’s making $20 million in 2019 and at least that much through 2023. After seeing how last year’s free agent market played out for even established hitters, there’s almost no chance that he’d fetch that much on the open market.

After the Cubs were eliminated from the playoffs after the wild-card play-in game, Jason Heyward had to make a difficult decision about his future. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
After the Cubs were eliminated from the playoffs after the wild-card play-in game, Jason Heyward had to make a difficult decision about his future. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 2007 draft, he debuted in 2010 and made the All-Star team that year, while finishing second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. After hitting .262/.351/.429 over five seasons for the Braves, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for the 2015 season. With the Cards, he broke out and hit .293/.359/.439, the best offensive season of his career.

Since signing with the Cubs, his offensive output hasn’t equaled the enormity of his contract. In 2016, he hit just .230/.306/.325 with seven home runs, and an ugly .104/.140/.167 in the playoffs. 2017 was better, but .259/.326/.389 is still a far cry from how the Cubs hoped he would hit. 2018 was by far his best year with Chicago, with his triple slash landing at a respectable .270/.335/.395.

Despite Heyward’s paltry postseason output in 2016, he played a central role in helping the team win the World Series by giving a dramatic, possibly game-changing speech during Game 7. Tied 6-6 with the Cleveland Indians after nine innings, rain delayed the start of the tenth inning. That’s when Heyward called his teammates into the weight room for a players-only meeting. Before the 17-minute rain delay was over, Heyward gave a speech that fired up his teammates and reignited their will to win. The Cubs scored two runs in the top of the 10th which won them the game, the series, and their first trophy in 108 years.

By staying, Heyward guarantees himself a paycheck and a job for 2019. He also has an opt-out after the 2019 season if he reaches 550 plate appearances, but unless the trajectory of his career changes drastically, you shouldn’t expect him to leave. If he chooses to stay, he’s signed for at least $20 million a year through 2023. That’s some decent job security.

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Liz Roscher is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at lizroscher@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter at @lizroscher.

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