It arguably isnt even the worst one Theo Epstein gave out during his nine years running the team. Bleacher Nation is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. Look, don't feel bad for the Ricketts family or even Cubs fans. Hader is still under the Brewers' control for three more seasons, so he'll continue to be one of the best bullpen bargains in baseball. Los Angeles Dodgers ' head coach Dave Roberts has a number of important decisions to make ahead of Opening Day. He didn't even attempt a stolen base. I cant say that the contract was that much pressure, he said. Heyward produced a seven-year total of just 6.8 WAR, according to baseball-reference.com (8.5 according to fangraphs.com) after a 6.3 WAR single season with the Cardinals leading into free agency. The Halos are desperately trying to get Mike Trout to the playoffs, and Upton was viewed as a key piece who could aid in that mission. They're considered comparable talents, and you can put Soto in that group as well. Since 2016, Heyward has five seasons with a wRC+ of 100 or less, and three seasons under 90. "We'll go our separate directions at the end of the year.". Through four years in San Diego, Hosmer has a combined fWAR of 0.5. Keirmaier has a high-risk/high-reward style of play, often running into walls at full speed to chase down fly balls, so he's been somewhat injury-prone, which hurts his value. It's not just that he's failed to live up to it but how badly he's failed to live up to it. But to be able to show the value of myself as a person in probably one of the toughest times Ive had on the the field and off the field in 2016, to still show Im here for the team, to still play defense the way I play defense, run the bases and just to step in and step up at multiple times when I was needed to be who I am, to be Jason Heyward , We still got a ring, and it took every bit of that from me, he said. But in the grand scheme of things, Heyward's impact goes far beyond the stats and the dollars. The Giants built a dynasty using a core of homegrown players, and Crawford was one of them. "I know Cubs fans would put this No. Last season, Patrick Corbin was quite possibly the worst pitcher in baseball. If that's your basis, Sheehan is overstating Heyward's performance this year. Plus, the National League is fully expected to add the designated hitter whenever the 2022 campaign gets underway, which should benefit the aging Cano. I feel like its very hard to outplay certain contracts, especially one like that one. Find out where to go, what to eat, where to live, and more. Fried is going to hit free agency after his age 30 season. That doesnt mean the Cubs got what they paid for the last seven years. Thats what kept him at number five on this list. On every Fangraphs player page, there's a "Value" section that gives a dollar figure for how much a player has been worth that year. But I know I also have my hand in a lot of winning baseball here on the north . The Cubs will officially release Heyward this offseason to allow him to seek out a contract for 2023, though with his decline in production and his time away with the knee injury this year, its hard to see him finding a guaranteed big league deal. But there has been . The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander was nothing short of dominant in his first three seasons and was rewarded with All-Star selections in 2018 and 2019. RELATED: Jason Heyward's lasting moment one of Cubs' biggest ever. He's coming off a dismal season in which he hit just .167, and Steamer projections give him a 0.2 WAR for 2021. A ground ball king at the plate, Hosmer ranked 115th out of 132 qualified hitters in ISO in 2021 (.126), and had the second-highest ground ball rate in the game (55.5%). Unlike the players well be getting into later in this article, Stanton is still a highly productive MLB hitter. This list was created using Fangraphs' 2021 Steamer projections for WAR and players' 2021 salaries. That effort. ESPN.com. He's still owed $42.3 million plus another $5 million buyout on a 2021 option. Bad contracts. Outfield depth isn't a bad thing. The North Siders thought they were getting a franchise player going into his prime with the acquisition of gold glover Jason Heyward. The 35-year-old Longoria was unable to get going the last two years as he battled injuries. Jason Heyward signed a 1 year / $720,000 contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, including $720,000 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $720,000. Continue browsing CubsHQ with your adblocker active with a monthly or annual Blue Level membership. But Fowler had a better track record than Davis coming into the season. Former Chicago Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward, who played for the team the last seven seasons, will have the chance to continue his 14-year MLB career after he signed a minor league contract with th His defense is still excellent, ranked 8th best among all players by Fangraphs. Tatis may end up being a bargain in the later years of his contract, but there are a few players on long-term deals who could be considered overpaid when you take into account their production, or lack thereof in some cases. Jake was the play-by-play broadcaster for the Valley Blue Sox during the 2019 season. That's how good his defense is. In the six seasons before signing an eight-year, $184 million contract with the Cubs, Heyward averaged a .784 OPS while hitting below league average just once. Soto could be baseball's first half-billion-dollar player. The 35-year-old lefty might earn $16 million this year and next as a back-end starter, which probably speaks to how deep the Dodgers' rotation is. How Bad Is Jason Heyward's Contract? With all that being said, Heyward did at least contribute defensively to the Cubs drought-ending 2016 World Series championship (finished top-25 in MLB in DRS that season). Nobody, including Heyward, will try to tell you he hasn't delivered on the $184 million promise six years into his eight-year contract. No Gavin Lux -- big problem. Heyward's contract runs through 2023, with his salary set to be $22MM for that campaign. Heyward says 'I'll rock that badge' of maligned contract, Jason Heyward plans to play in '23 then return to Cubs, Heyward appreciates Cubs being real, not 'blowing smoke', Jason Heyward's lasting moment one of Cubs' biggest ever. So thats fine. Did it bring more attention? Even his defense has gone from elite to good in recent years. December 14, 2015. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. Since 2017, Cabrera has hit just 56 combined home runs and posted a wRC+ under 100 three times. And it would have been very easy to just say, all right, we gave it a hell of a run. Overpaid: Craig Kimbrel, Chicago Cubs ($16 million). He's coming off a dismal season in which he hit just .167, and Steamer, Moncada is in the second year of a five-year deal that gives him incremental increases each season, which makes him a steal this season. So I have no beef whatsoever with MLBTR popping up a video that explores some bad contracts in recent free agency. And rightfully so. I just wanted to win.. Overpaid: Jason Heyward, Chicago Cubs ($23.5 million). As long as salaries, incentives and bonuses are made public, then there will be debate over who is underpaid and who is overpaid. Heywards deal cost a lot more, for more years, but he filled a huge defensive need unique to the other bidders at the time for a Cubs team with a collective sieve in the outfield and made others around him better even if he didnt deliver for himself in the lineup. Chicago magazine newsletters have you covered. "Great defender. He's been worth 1.2 WAR so far this year, according to Fangraphs' numbers. Theyre gladiators. Instead, the $59 million hes still owed is getting in the way of the Padres dreams. Heyward played one year in St. Louis before signing an eight-year, $184 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. Underpaid: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres ($1.715 million). The bad news? Since Heyward has been in Chicago, he's been good but not great. I know I have a lot to offer still for a winning baseball team, Heyward said, per Cubs.com. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times first . That effort. Heyward spent one season with the Cardinals before signing an eight-year, $184 million contract with the Chicago Cubs, which was the largest deal signed by a free-agent position player in the. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience. MLB agreed to pay $185 million to minor league players, which proved to them again that the owners were not invincible. If he hits 40 or more home runs like he did in 2017 and 2018, he'll set himself up for a big free-agent payday in 2023 if the Rangers don't extend him first. A Breakdown Of Jason Heyward's Cubs' Contract. If a win is worth $8 million, then Heyward is being paid a bit less than a three-win free agent. So we just needed a reminder.. On Wednesday, the Cubs granted outfielder Jason Heyward (left) his unconditional release. Jason Heyward as a minority owner of the Chicago Cubs? Before the baseball season started, I wrote a piece about how the Cubs were expected to be the best team in baseball. Heyward wasn't signed in a vacuum; the Cubs have built a deep team, and if the Heyward contract was a bit of a bomb, there's enough talent to absorb it. Marte is versatile, able to play second base, shortstop and center field with his speed and range. But for some onlookers, $184 million for Heyward, who only hit 13 home runs in 2015, seems exorbitant. The Texas Rangers outfielder is a good example of a three true outcomes player; he hits for power and is still only 27 years old, so at $6.2 million he's underpaid. I guess theres less people that can relate to you instantly, right? With the Cubs payroll at the luxury tax threshold, that added insult and financial injury to the organizations failure to develop pitching and effectively marked the rapid decline of that cores competitive timeline. But I have so much respect for that and understanding as someone who was a baseball fan growing up, on the other side of that. Jason Heyward's WAR was Super Awesome. Overpaid: Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles ($23 million) and Albert Pujols, Anaheim Angels ($30 million). Hes been one of the worst-hitting regulars in baseball, but his superlative defense means hes still been a decent playerfar from the worst contract of the offseason. Brett Taylor is the Editor and Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and @Brett_A_Taylor. worst contracts of all the major league teams, Chicago Cubs lineup vs. Angels: Patrick Wisdom at DH, Nico Hoerner at leadoff, Chicago Cubs lineup vs. Padres: Nick Madrigal at 2B, Justin Steele to pitch, Chicago Cubs lineup vs. A's: Nico Hoerner at leadoff, Nick Madrigal at 3B, Seiya Suzuki withdraws from 2023 World Baseball Classic with injury, CubsHQ: ESPN ranks Jason Heyward's contract the worst on Cubs, 2023 Season Projections: Dansby Swanson, Zach McKinstry, 2023 season win total projections for Cubs, Commentary: Cubs offseason was a very strong one, Dexter Fowler will forever be immortalized in Cubs history, Reasons why Cubs dynasty never came to fruition, Cubs should look to the 'Sheriff' for relief help, Cubs targets still available in free agency. The second. Even his defense has gone from elite to good in recent years. Heyward is in the seventh season of the eight-year, $184-million deal he signed before 2016, when he helped the Cubs end their 108-year drought. J. Overall, their offseason was a success, and while Heyward has been a disappointment at the plate, he hasn't exactly been a bust. Jason Heyward heard the naysayers and critics almost from the moment he signed a Cubs -record $184-million, eight-year contract a few months before the Cubs opened the 2016 curse-busting. Taylor still looks like Taylor at the plate. Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Prediction: Road to the MLB 2023 Season. Additionally, Cabrera is still due another $80 million guaranteed, meaning the Tigers will feel the ramifications of this deal for several more years. Pujols was one of the best players in the league at the time he went from St. Louis to Anaheim, but it's always risky handing out a contract like that to a player over age 30. Every offseason, baseball nerds try to figure out what the cost of a win is, by looking at how much teams spend on free agents and how many wins above replacement those players are expected to be worth. The worst hitter on the Cubs has also been their most expensive. Then, using the $8-million-per-win figure, I calculated how much surplus value players provided for their teamor, by contrast, how much teams overpaid. Thats only in small part because of the famous Game 7 rain-delay meeting he called before the Cubs rallied to finish off their first championship in 108 years. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Already Subscribed? It just won't be with the Cubs. It's highly unlikely that the Cubs will find a trade partner for Heyward given his contract and numbers on the field. Josh Hader has been among the best relievers in baseball since he entered the league in 2017. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. Its been an honor to wear that contract here, Heyward added. $17.5 million contract with the Cubs. He never stopped working. I think it's been a bit frustrating the last year and a half.". Through 13 games, Heyward's 113 wRC+ yes, it's buoyed by a .400 BABIP and I've watched those hits, he's hardly crushing the ball just isn't bad enough for the team to cut bait . However, the offense fell of a cliff the moment he stepped onto Wrigley Field. Last year, that was about $7.7 million, according to FiveThirtyEight's Neil Paine. That gave him a 2014 value of $6 million per win. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and more on Baseball-reference.com. DeGrom's new batterymate is in the first year of a four-year, $40.6 million contract, but it's his bat that makes him valuable. Moreover, the 32-year-old outfielder still has $44 million left on his contract over the next two years. However, he has not lived up fully to his contract with his light hitting display. Im not sure how else hes supposed to think about it, so I think thats all fair. Acuna, the 2018 NL Rookie of the Year plays all outfield positions and has played 147 games in center field and 147 in left field over the last three seasons. Heyward? July 27, 2016. Conversely, there are many more players who end up not being paid as much as they should because MLB's contract structure greatly favors owners over players. Dont take my word for it, just look at what resident Pads fan Javi Reyes has to say, The Enigma Of The New York Yankees Outfield, New York Yankees' Bats Need a Lift After Disappointing August, The Worst Contracts in Major League Baseball. Heyward still had $22 million remaining on the initial eight-year, $184 million deal he. But he's basically right about what he's being paid$184 million over eight years is $23 million per season. [texts-excerpt] penalty for cutting mangroves in floridaFREE EstimateFREE Estimate That award goes to Justin Upton, who has been worth -1.0 WAR this yearnegative on both offense and defenseand is being paid $22 million a year. The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed former All-Star Jason Heyward to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Any failure that we had. San Diego Padresshortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. signed a $340 million, 14-year megadeal and Trevor Bauer signed an unorthodox four-year contract with his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers. Heyward's one of the worse overpays, at least for this year. June 1st, 2022. But it's not just a matter of dollars and cents, so players' importance to the team and their individual roles were also taken into account. Click here to subscribe to the Cubs Talk Podcast for free. Heyward produced a seven-year total of just 6.8 WAR, according to baseball-reference.com (8.5 according to fangraphs.com) after a 6.3 WAR single season with the Cardinals leading into free agency. One of the Oakland A's many cost-controlled players, Olson has solidified himself as one of the top first basemen in the league. Never stopped trying to earn his contract. With a projected WAR of 5.9 in 2021, Tatis costs just under $300,000 per WAR, which is incredible value for one of the best players in baseball and the best player in the game at his position. So, no. Flipboard. Others just never saw what the big deal was. But if the biggest contract in franchise history is the bad contract even Heyward seems to acknowledge, is it the worst in franchise history? The two-time Gold Glove winner has a career .839 OPS. That, in fact, speaks specifically to what he might see for himself in the future. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. At right is . According to FanGraphs, the 26 . He also served up a National League-high 37 home runs. (CBS) The Cubs officially introduced newly signed outfielder Jason Heyward at a press conference in . This one is a disaster for so many reasons. Hosmer was signed in 2018 to symbolize that San Diego was committed to fielding a winning ball club after years of disappointment. Last year, there was a strained oblique and a glute muscle injury. There were some moments of tremendous value and a lot of winning but its all in the past now, and you kinda just have to let it go.