Controversial member of the 2016 Cubs joins the Padres on one-year deal

The show goes on for five-time Gold Glover and former Chicago Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward. The 35-year-old is joining the San Diego Padres on a one-year deal and is expected to split time in left field with another newcomer in Connor Joe.

Heyward appeared in 87 games for the Dodgers and Astros last season, earning the second World Series ring of his career for his efforts in Los Angeles, and was used almost exclusively in matchups against right-handers, putting up a .720 OPS in those situations. As I mentioned, Joe will platoon with Heyward in left for San Diego - with Joe expected to handle duties against southpaws.

All these years later, Heyward remains a controversial figure with Cubs fans. There's no debating he fell short of lofty expectations that came with the richest free-agent contract in franchise history (eight years, $184 million) but there's also no arguing that he left an indelible mark on the team, particularly during the 2016 World Series championship season.

Never even a 3.0 bWAR player on the North Side, Heyward showcased elite defense in right field, but never replicated his early-career success at the plate. After slashing a cumulative .268/.353/.431 (114 OPS+ in the first six years of his career, the former first-rounder bottomed out offensively with the Cubs, slashing .245/.323/.377 (85 OPS+). Chicago wound up cutting ties with him before that contract was finished, parting ways with him at the end of the 2022 season after he put up a 56 OPS+ and -0.7 bWAR in limited action.

Since then, he found some mild success in platoon roles for the Dodgers and, to a lesser degree, Astros. But that's what he is at this point in his career: a matchup-based veteran who can mentor younger players and be a clubhouse leader. Even the defensive metrics have started to go in the wrong direction, but it's still good to see him sticking around for at least one more go-round in 2025.