Chicago Cubs: Can They Continue to Play Jason Heyward?
A 25-6 start gave the Chicago Cubs a lot of equity for the remainder of the season, but the team has only gone 40-35 since its historic start. Jason Heyward signed the third biggest contract and highest for a position player in free agency last offseason, with an eight-year, $184 million deal that has various opt-outs.
The first of those opt-outs comes after the 2018 season. Heyward has to have 550 plate appearances for the second opt-out in 2019. Unless he is far better the next two seasons, it’s highly unlikely Heyward would opt out.
How long can the Cubs continue to keep Heyward in the lineup? He is hitting .231 with five home runs and 31 RBI in 98 games. He has a .314 on-base percentage and .324 slugging percentage, making for a .638 OPS
The Cubs have one of the most versatile rosters in baseball, but 24-year-old outfielder Jorge Soler is on the disabled list. He has been out since June 7 with a strained hamstring. Soler has been struggling in his rehab assignment with AA Tennessee. He is hitting just .118 for the Smokies. He was only hitting .223 with five home runs and 15 RBI in 150 at-bats before his injury. That’s one fewer threat to Heyward.
Heyward is part of the versatility and has won a Gold Glove three of the past four years. With his contract and as a right fielder, the Cubs need far better offensive production. He has been much better offensively when playing center than right. Heyward has never been a power hitter, but he is hitting .303 with one home run, eight RBI and a .799 OPS as a center fielder.
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As a right fielder, Heyward is slashing .213/.302/.297 with four home runs and 23 RBI. Most players wouldn’t be able to survive staying in the lineup with those numbers. He likely has remained a starter because of the Cubs’ 9.5 game division lead and being fourth in runs scored and second in OPS.
Soler’s injury poses one fewer threat to Heyward. Even with Soler’s absence, Joe Maddon still has better options in the outfield. Four Cubs on the current roster have played right field. Javier Baez and Willson Contreras have played left. That basically gives Maddon seven options to put in the lineup to replace Heyward.
Kris Bryant and Ben Zobrist have played right field the most in place of Heyward. Bryant has played 13 games there and Zobrist 11. The Cubs’ right fielders are hitting .242 with ten home runs and 42 RBI. Bryant is hitting .277 with three home runs and seven RBI in 47 at-bats while playing right field. Zobrist has hit .291 with three home runs and ten RBI in 55 at-bats in right field. In fifty fewer at-bats, Bryant and Zobrist have combined to hit two more home runs and drive in just seven fewer runs.
The Cubs’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 46. Barring an epic collapse, they will make the playoffs. They have a nine and a half game lead over St. Louis in both the NL Central and the second Wild Card. Maddon has never been shy about moving players around or shaking up a lineup.
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Baez and Contreras’ play is practically forcing Maddon to give them more at-bats. Baez is hitting .278-11- 40 in 294 at-bats, Contreras .271-5-19 in 160 at-bats. If Heyward doesn’t turn things around soon, they will likely get more playing time.