The Cubs made it official Tuesday and introduced OF Jason Heyward as the newest member of the Chicago Cubs.
Jason Heyward will wear No. 22 and reportedly agreed to terms on an eight-year, $184 million contract that includes opt-outs after the third and fourth year.
According to Jon Heyman, the actual value of Heyward’s contract is $179,885,463 and includes a full no-trade clause for the first three years (2016-18) and limited no-trade protection for the next two years (2019-20), after the 2020 season Heyward would have 10-and 5 rights (full no-trade protection).
Jason Heyward received a $20 million signing bonus, which is all deferred, and will be paid $15 million in 2016, $21.5 million in 2017-18, $20 million in 2019, $21 million in 2020-21 and $22 million in 2022-23. Heyward can void the remaining five years after the 2018 season and his option vests in which he can void the contract if he reached 550 plate appearances during the 2019 season. If Heyward voids the remaining years of the contract after either the 2018 or 2019 season, the signing bonus is no longer deferred and must be paid.
If Jason Heyward opts out of his contract following the 2018 season, the Cubs will have paid him $78 million for three years ($26 million AAV).
With the addition of Jason Heyward, the Cubs 40-man roster stands at 40 players.
Jason Heyward, 26, joins the Cubs as a three-time Gold Glove Award winner and 2010 National League All-Star and Rookie of the Year runner-up who has qualified for the postseason in four of his first six Major League campaigns with the Atlanta Braves (2010-14) and St. Louis Cardinals (2015). The left-handed batter and thrower has averaged 31 doubles, four triples, 19 home runs, 68 RBI, 72 walks and 17 stolen bases per 162 games, turning in a .268 batting average (804-for-3,005) with a .353 on-base percentage, .431 slugging percentage and .784 OPS in 835 major league games.
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Heyward has consistently ranked as one of the best defensive outfielders in all of baseball thanks to his Gold Glove Awards (2012, 2014 and 2015) and his multiple top 10 finishes in outfield assists (including leading all right fielders in 2012 and 2014), putouts as a right fielder (first in 2012 and 2014), fielding percentage and defensive WAR.
Jason Heyward set career highs in several offensive categories last year with St. Louis, including a .293 batting average, 33 doubles, 160 hits and 23 stolen bases in 154 games, his most since playing in a career-best 158 games in 2012. He posted a .359 on-base percentage, his best mark since his career-best .393 on-base percentage in his rookie season, while his .797 OPS was his best since 2012. His 6.5 WAR ranked fifth among all National League position players while winning his third Gold Glove in the last four years.
Selected by Atlanta in the first round (14th overall) of the 2007 Draft, Heyward made his major league debut three years later, connecting for a three-run homer in his first-career plate appearance in the first inning against the Cubs on Opening Day, April 5, 2010. His rookie campaign featured an All-Star selection, though he did not play due to injury, and an .849 OPS, the second-best OPS by a National League rookie since 2010 behind only Kris Bryant’s .858 mark in 2015. Heyward was named N.L. Rookie of the Month in April and May and ranked fourth in the league with a .393 on-base percentage.
Heyward set a career high with 27 home runs, 82 RBI, 93 runs scored and six triples in 158 games with the Braves in 2012, also winning his first Gold Glove Award. He capped his Braves career in 2014 with another Gold Glove before being traded to St. Louis on November 17, 2014 as part of the four-player deal that sent pitcher Shelby Miller to the Braves.
Born in Ridgewood, N.J., Heyward graduated from Henry County High School in McDonough, Ga. and turned down a scholarship from UCLA to sign with the Braves out of high school. Heyward’s father, Eugene, played basketball collegiately at Dartmouth University.