Chicago Cubs RUMORS: Jason Heyward Remains In Free Agency Plans; Three Reasons Team Should Sign Him

UPDATE: Here's the latest surrounding Heyward:

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The market for outfielder Jason Heyward seems to be heating up. The latest rumor talks suggest the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals are the frontrunners to land the 26-year-old and a decision might be coming soon.

Chicago needs to make this move if they want to consider themselves top contenders in the MLB for the next few seasons. Rumors have linked them to Heyward for quite a while now and it's time for Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer to pull the trigger.

"There are two schools of thought emerging regarding Heyward: The Cubs are really interested in him or their interest is in driving up the price for the St. Louis Cardinals," writes Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com. "I believe the interest is real as the Cubs have continually mentioned squeezing more money from "the business side" this offseason. They'll need it to sign Heyward. The team probably won't be as active next winter as a lot of the money it's spending will come off the books after 2017. So in some sense the Cubs are doing the work of two offseasons now. They can fit Heyward into a long-term budget even though the contract is likely to be for eight to 10 years."

Here are three reasons the Cubs need Jason Heyward starting in their outfield in 2016:

3. To steal another top player from the Cardinals and become the clear favorites to win the NL Central.

There is no doubt the Cubs would be the team to beat in the NL Central and probably the entire National League if Heyward were to join them. And it'd be a power move if the Cubs snatched the Cardinals best pitcher from last season (John Lackey) AND their best all around player (Heyward).

Heyward is one of the best defensive outfielders in the MLB and he gives the Cubs a left-handed bat atop their lineup, which they're in need of since Dexter Fowler is expected to leave in free agency.

His best numbers come when he's batting first or second in the lineup, but he can also hit anywhere else in the lineup if need be. Check out his career split stats:

Batting First - .280/.354/.427 with 78 runs scored, 16 home runs, 55 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 126 games

Batting Second - .251/.347/.410 with 125 runs scored, 27 home runs, 82 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 220 games

Batting Third - .259/.336/.427 with 78 runs scored, 18 home runs, 66 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 134 games

Batting Fifth - .269/.353/.402 with 47 runs scored, 5 home runs, 36 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 101 games

His offensive production isn't anything to write home about, but he's certainly a capable hitter and is a threat every time he steps into the batters box.

Heyward would easily become the Cubs best outfielder and perhaps the best outfielder they've had in a long time. He can probably be used in center field as well, which gives manager Joe Maddon yet another flexible option on the roster after the team added Ben Zobrist earlier this week.

There has been some concern about his offensive production because he has yet to match his stellar numbers from 2012 (.269 batting average, 27 home runs, 82 RBI and 21 stolen bases), but inserting him into a Cubs lineup that consists of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Addison Russell, Miguel Montero, Jorge Soler and Zobrist would arguably be the most favorable situation of his career.

Even with those stacked lineups in Atlanta with Justin Upton, Freddie Freeman, Brian McCann, Evan Gattis and others, the Braves never ranked above the 13^th in total offense when Heyward was there.

2. Heyward could very well land a 10-year deal, but if he keeps performing at his current rate, the Cubs won't be on the hook for the entire duration of the contract.

We noted this earlier in the offseason. Heyward, at just 26 years old, is almost guaranteed to receive an opt-out clause after three or four years because his representation will want to seek another long-term pact before or when he turns 30. Heyward won't turn 27 until August.

So say he signs this widely speculated 10-year, $200-plus million deal and makes $20 million per season. If he happens to get that opt-out clause after four seasons, the Cubs will only be responsible for $80 million, assuming Heyward continues putting up solid numbers and playing his usual stellar defense.

Like Zack Greinke did this offseason, Heyward will undoubtedly opt out and explore one last lucrative contract before his age prevents him from doing so and the Cubs can let him walk after getting four years of Heyward in his prime.

The Cubs are enjoying high revenues after their run to the NLCS this year and their next regional TV rights deal should pay them nicely, to say the least. Without Heyward, the Cubs' payroll could reach $142 million in 2016. Their Opening Day payroll in 2015 was $120 million, according to Baseball Prospectus.

Would a $40 million increase (including Heyward's potential $20 million salary) really be that big of a deal?

1. If the Cubs win a World Series in the next four seasons, they can easily pay for Heyward's contract if he doesn't opt out and it will be worth it for all the runs he saves on defense.

Let's face it, the Cubs cannot head into 2016 with Kyle Schwarber in left, Jorge Soler in right and some center fielder they sign to a one-year contract (Denard Span, Rajai Davis, Austin Jackson, etc.) That defense would cost them a number of games. In a competitive NL Central, that won't fly.

Chicago won 97 games in 2015 and their outfield ranked 27^th in the MLB with -26 defensive runs saved (DRS). Imagine if it was mediocre?

Heyward led all right fielders with 22 defensive runs saved and ranked third in the MLB among the rest of the league's outfielders (he was only behind Kevin Kiermaier and Ender Inciarte). That may not be worth $200 million, but what mammoth contract this offseason wasn't an overpay? Greinke and David Price both got over $200 million and they're both only on the field for a maximum of 34 games a season.

The Cubs made the NLCS with one of the youngest teams in the MLB, so it's hard to believe they won't make the Fall Classic at least once in the next four years. If they happen to win a World Series and Heyward happens to not opt out of his contract, the Cubs would have no trouble paying for it with all the revenue made from that single postseason run.

If not a World Series, we can at least expect Chicago to make the postseason on a consistent basis for the foreseeable future. That alone can probably take care of the salaries for Heyward and Jon Lester, who would be the top two earners on the team (and possibly Jake Arrieta if he signs a big extension).

This is a move the Cubs need to make. Signing Zobrist and trading Starlin Castro were shrewd moves, but they need to make the one big signing after passing on Price and Greinke.

Heyward is arguably the only free agent available that will be worth every penny of his contract due to his age, defensive abilities and decent production at the plate. He perhaps has the least amount of concerns compared to fellow free agent outfielders Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton and Alex Gordon.

The Cubs have been linked to Heyward this long because it's likely they feel this is the one move they need to make to solidify their lineup and improve their outfield defense.

This team is serious about contending and adding Heyward would further indicate that, as they'd be perhaps become the biggest threat in the MLB.

Tags

Chicago cubs rumors, Free agency, Sign