Jason Heyward wanted an extension from Atlanta Braves

Jason Heyward was traded from the Atlanta Braves to the St. Louis Cardinals late Monday morning and the outfielder didn’t wait long before making his feelings on the deal known. Heyward spoke openly during a conference call with Atlanta reporters, including David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, about the fact that he’d hoped for an extension that would allow him to remain with the Braves.

Heyward’s reaction to the trade, from O’Brien:

"I didn’t know what to expect going into the offseason, but as time went and I didn’t ever see anybody reach out to me as far as wanting to discuss an extension to be here longer than next year, I kind of got the impression that I would get traded."

On whether an extension could have been reached between the two sides:

"To be honest, the Braves front office are the ones that would have to come to me about a deal, about the extension, about me being here longer than 2015, for that to actually happen. And that never took place last offseason. I threw the two year deal out on the table because I didn’t want to go through the arbitration process anymore. I wanted to go play baseball and I didn’t want to come back after another offseason and go OK, we’re once again talking about numbers and performance and this and that. I just wanted to go play. I wanted our next conversation to be about me possibly being in Atlanta for a long time. And that conversation never came about. So I took it as, that’s what they wanted to happen."

Heyward’s deal paid him $4.5 million this past season – he batted .271/.351/.384 in 649 plate appearances while winning his second Gold Glove. He’ll earn $7.8 million this coming year before reaching free agency. It seems too early to tell if the Cardinals will look to extend him before that point, but the team will be eligible to receive a draft pick as compensation if they make him a qualifying offer following the season.

Some of Heyward’s frustrations would appear understandable on the surface. Last offseason when he was waiting for a call that never came, a number of his Braves teammates – including Freddie Freeman, Andrelton Simmons, and Julio Teheran – were handed significant contract extensions of their own.

The Braves have clearly shifted into a rapid rebuilding mode, this being their second trade in as many days, and it had become clear that Heyward may not have fit into their plans moving forward. Rumblings began in the past week that the team could look to trade either him or Justin Upton, who will also be a free agent after this next season, and it didn’t take long before talks with the Cardinals could be completed.

The deal would appear to benefit all involved, likely including Heyward.