Chicago Cubs don’t need a blockbuster move to be ready for 2018

Heyward taking baby steps in the right direction

When the Chicago Cubs signed Jason Heyward to his franchise record eight-year, $184 million contract, we expected the best. I mean, why wouldn’t we? In the 2015 NLDS, the then-Cardinals outfielder put up a 1.080 OPS against Chicago.

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Defensively, we all knew (and know) what he’s capable of. For four-straight campaigns, Heyward took home the National League Gold Glove for right fielders. There’s no debating what he means to the Cubs in the outfield. But his work with the bat has left plenty to be desired, to say the least.

His debut season coincided with the team’s World Series title. Of course, he’s earned a spot in baseball lore for his Game 7 locker room speech that rallied the Cubs during the rain delay. But, on the diamond, he did little to earn his keep – despite his astounding efforts to improve.

Trending up?

In 2016, he slashed .230/.306/.325 – good for a career-low .631 OPS. He improved that mark to .715 last year, but that still ranked as the third-lowest OPS he’d ever put up in a season. Granted, he brought home his aforementioned fourth consecutive Gold Glove, so there’s value there.

All told, he was a 2.3 WAR player, according to Baseball Reference. But with a staggering $132 million left on his contract, the Cubs need more production to get any type of fair return on this deal.

Already hard at work in Arizona, I have faith in Jason Heyward. With another step forward in 2018, the Cubs outfielder will be right back in line with his career averages.