2019 is Jason Heyward fixed thread

[Bertz]

He should be released

 

It’s crazy that despite his unbelievably bad hitting he still has a positive fWAR this year, albeit just 0.1. He’s still a positive fielder and baserunner. I would consider keeping him if he accepted a very reduced role of 25th man, used only for late inning defense and pinch running. If we’re paying him either way why not use him in a way that gives us value? Also he’s a great clubhouse guy to have assuming he accepts the reduced role with professionalism.

 

That said, I’m not sure Ross would use him in that way if he’s on the roster. I hate to infer this because his job should be to put his roster in the best position to win but I get the feeling he will do everything he can to make sure his buddy gets every opportunity in the world to play everyday. Maybe I’m wrong…he did eventually release Arrieta, though I think that release came several starts too late and Jake had to give us 3 IP, 6 ER games for a couple of months before the trigger was pulled.

 

Also, I get that Ross doesn’t make roster decisions like that but I’m sure he had some influence, especially when the deadline happened and there was nothing to play for.

 

Yeah, I think the Heyward decision is tough, so I'm not going to get too invested either way. He's likely not *this* bad of a hitter, and as long as he's not he's still probably in quality bench player range when you add his defense, baserunning, platoon splits, and soft factors like leadership. Like I don't think he's no longer worth being an MLBer, and we're paying him either way.

 

That said I think I think Ortega and Deichman are better players. Probably modestly, but they're probably better. And unlike Heyward, if they're bad next year they are *very* easy to cut bait with. I don't think next year's going to be a total wash, but I do think there's going to be some roster churn, particularly in the first half, and having another roster spot where you can cycle guys through has real value.

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

He should be released

 

It’s crazy that despite his unbelievably bad hitting he still has a positive fWAR this year, albeit just 0.1. He’s still a positive fielder and baserunner. I would consider keeping him if he accepted a very reduced role of 25th man, used only for late inning defense and pinch running. If we’re paying him either way why not use him in a way that gives us value? Also he’s a great clubhouse guy to have assuming he accepts the reduced role with professionalism.

 

That said, I’m not sure Ross would use him in that way if he’s on the roster. I hate to infer this because his job should be to put his roster in the best position to win but I get the feeling he will do everything he can to make sure his buddy gets every opportunity in the world to play everyday. Maybe I’m wrong…he did eventually release Arrieta, though I think that release came several starts too late and Jake had to give us 3 IP, 6 ER games for a couple of months before the trigger was pulled.

 

Also, I get that Ross doesn’t make roster decisions like that but I’m sure he had some influence, especially when the deadline happened and there was nothing to play for.

 

Yeah, I think the Heyward decision is tough, so I'm not going to get too invested either way. He's likely not *this* bad of a hitter, and as long as he's not he's still probably in quality bench player range when you add his defense, baserunning, platoon splits, and soft factors like leadership. Like I don't think he's no longer worth being an MLBer, and we're paying him either way.

 

That said I think I think Ortega and Deichman are better players. Probably modestly, but they're probably better. And unlike Heyward, if they're bad next year they are *very* easy to cut bait with. I don't think next year's going to be a total wash, but I do think there's going to be some roster churn, particularly in the first half, and having another roster spot where you can cycle guys through has real value.

Was his vaccination status factored into this? I'm only half joking.

[UMFan83]

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/jason-heyward-chicago-cubs-mlb-baseball

 

Cool article from JHey. He could have been down about his time in Chicago. I'm sure he heard people critical of him or his contract. But he kept it positive and expressed what seems like genuine love for the Cubs and the city. Says this is his home and will remain his home (I'm assuming that's figurative but I could be wrong).

 

I'm still a little peeved about the vaccination thing, but can look past it enough to say that he seemed universally loved as a teammate and probably made a bigger difference behind the scenes than we give him credit for.

 

Bad contract, disappointing seasons, but (mostly) good dude and I'm glad he had such a great experience in Chicago

[soccer10k]

Counterpoint: I'd say anything about a city/team if they paid me $184M over 8 years.

 

Joking aside, him buying a suite for Ross on the road for all of the 2016 season (or whatever it was) because of all Ross did for Heyward when he was a rookie made me think higher of both guys.

[Derwood]

I had forgotten that Heyward existed

[Andy]

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/jason-heyward-chicago-cubs-mlb-baseball

 

Cool article from JHey. He could have been down about his time in Chicago. I'm sure he heard people critical of him or his contract. But he kept it positive and expressed what seems like genuine love for the Cubs and the city. Says this is his home and will remain his home (I'm assuming that's figurative but I could be wrong).

 

I'm still a little peeved about the vaccination thing, but can look past it enough to say that he seemed universally loved as a teammate and probably made a bigger difference behind the scenes than we give him credit for.

 

Bad contract, disappointing seasons, but (mostly) good dude and I'm glad he had such a great experience in Chicago

I don't think the home thing is figurative, I'm pretty sure he said in his presser that he will keep his home in Chicago.

 

Domestic abusers aside, I'll never take a shot at someone who was on the 2016 team. It's not his fault the Cubs paid him all that money and (probably) broke his batting form trying to unlock more power.

[cl smooth]

did heyward make the trip to toronto with the team? i know that was after (or at least near) the time they "benched" him for the rest of the season.