Jason Heyward played for the St. Louis Cardinals for one season in 2015. Just one. But when he signed with the rival Chicago Cubs over the Cardinals this past offseason, fans reacted like the Cubs were signing away a home grown product who had spent his entire career with the organization.
What didn’t help was how Heyward described his situation in Chicago versus St. Louis when asked about why he chose the Cubs.
When he was introduced in Chicago, Heyward said:
“(I’d) rather grow up with a bunch of guys and make them family and be able to cherish that without feeling like I had to restart.”
Later, Heyward mentioned the names of former teammates Adam Wainwright, Matt Holliday, and Yadier Molina as guys who helped bring the Cardinals’ the 2011 World Series crown. But some fans misinterpreted that as him saying the Cardinals’ had an old core he didn’t want to be a part of.
In his return to St. Louis, Heyward took the opportunity to clarify what he said. The outfielder claimed he wasn’t talking about age, but instead about contracts. Holliday has a $17 million team option for next season, but if the Cardinals decline it, he’ll be a free agent in November. Wainwright is signed through 2018 and Molina is through 2017, but with an option for 2018.
Meanwhile, the Cubs have a roster of players that will be around for a while. Here is when some of the main Cubs will become free agents: Jon Lester – 2021, Jake Arrieta – 2018, Kris Bryant – 2022, Kyle Schwarber – 2022, and Addison Russell – 2022, just to name a few.
“In Atlanta my first three years, I felt like we had a special group, some guys who did some special things in this game and are still doing special things in this game,” Heyward said. “Dealing with the process of figuring out where I’m going to go, free agent-wise, I just felt like Chicago’s going to give me a great opportunity to be with these guys for the majority of my contract.”
Heyward has an opt-out after the 2018 season and another that triggers with 550 plate appearances after 2019. If the outfielder stays in Chicago for the length of his deal, he won’t be a free agent again until 2024.
“If somebody boos me here (in St. Louis), that means they were not happy to see me leave,” Heyward said. “I’m kind of glad that people weren’t happy to see me leave. The fans should enjoy it, and we’re going to enjoy it.”
Cardinals’ manager Mike Matheny didn’t take the side of the fans when asked about Heyward’s return and his deal with the Cubs.
“I made myself available if there were any other questions. I kept that door open. What am I going to say? As much as we talk already, he knows what I’m all about, he knows the expectations here, he knows what the city is about. He had all the information he needed about the St. Louis Cardinals,” Matheny said.
Cardinals fans gave Heyward a frosty reception on Monday, and sadly, some reportedly taunted him with racial slurs.
David Schoenfield wrote an article for ESPN on Monday stating 2016 might be the peak of the classic Cubs and Cardinals rivalry. Even though Heyward only played in St. Louis for one year, it’s easy to understand why Cardinals fans aren’t happy. Not only did he go to the rival, he went at a time when the Cubs are favored to break the curse Cardinals’ fans love reminding them about.
[ESPN]
