Jason Heyward’s new contract is absolutely mind-boggling

Being touted as the market’s top free agent position player, 26 year old Jason Heyward has made his decision, choosing to sign with the Chicago Cubs.

Heyward has batted. 311 with four homers and 13 RBIs in 25 career games at Wrigley Field, with a. 376 on-base percentage and a. 522 slugging percentage. The lineup now looks ridiculous, with young up-and-coming stars like Schwarber, Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler, and Anthony Rizzo already there, as well as Heyward and the recently-signed Ben Zobrist.

Madson has a $22 million, three-year contract while closer Axford received a $10 million, two-year deal.

Heyward is not a flawless player, and he will be paid the same as players who put up far better numbers offensively. The Cubs will likely try to make Heyward their new center fielder, as the 2010 Rookie of the Year runner-up is infamous for his speed and a rocket of an arm, which earned him his third Gold Glove award in three seasons in 2015.

The Cubs outbid the Cardinals and Nationals for the outfielder Friday, removing any doubt about Ricketts’ financial commitment to winning and solidifying manager Joe Maddon’s team as the one to beat in the National League Central. They can make Heyward the everyday center fielder and platoon Zobrist and Soler in right, with Javy Baez and Zobrist sharing time at second.

The starter turned down a six-year deal worth $120 million from the Diamondbacks, and he might be hard-pressed to get that same contract elsewhere. Heyward is a great fit for the Cubs.

With Heyward finally off the board, the outfield market should finally begin to take shape, and provide us with a better picture of which teams are going after the remaining free agents. Peter Gammons of MLB Network is reporting that the contract includes two opt-out clauses. The Orioles could choose to move on if Davis’ asking price is too high, and they reportedly see outfielder Justin Upton as a potential backup plan.

First off, Jason Heyward is a left handed batter, something that the Cubs have lacked over recent years.