Chicago Cubs: Paying players to play for other teams

This offseason the rumors are that the Cubs are unable to make a significant addition unless they get rid of some salary. The two contracts the Cubs would most like to shed from their payroll are the ones that belong to Jason Heyward and Tyler Chatwood.

Heyward has five years and $106 million left on his contract. Chatwood has two years and $25 million left on his contract. But none of the other 29 teams in Major League Baseball is going to want those players on their rosters at those costs.

Heyward’s contract is further complicated by trade clauses in his contract. During the first three years of his contract, he had a full no-trade clause. After two more seasons, Heyward will be a 10/5 player (10 years in the league, 5 with the same team). That gives him the right to veto trades. So this is part of a limited window where Heyward only has a limited no-trade clause. During these two seasons, Heyward names 12 teams that he can block trades.