Braves Sign Jason Heyward To Two-Year Deal per MLB TradeRumors

[tmizerek]

Braves Sign Jason Heyward To Two-Year Deal
By Steve Adams [February 4 at 10:00am CST]

The Braves have issued a press release to announce the signing of right fielder Jason Heyward to a two-year contract. The contract, which covers the 2014-15 seasons, prevents Heyward and the Braves from going to an arbitration hearing. Heyward is a client of Excel Sports Management.

[The Chosen One]

Temporary good news. I guess those who criticized Frank Wren for not giving Hey the extra 300k or whatever it was he was asking for can give him a compliment for getting this done.

[tfbrave77]

Jon Heyman says 2 yrs/13.3M

Edit:
Same number reported on 680theFan

[zbhargrove]

Good news for the Bravos! Now let's hope Jason takes another step forward this year in full health and they work out a bigger extension.

[nsacpi]

Around 8M for 2015. Good value for the club and some security for Jason. Too bad it doesn't include another year.

[JohnAdcox]

Around 8M for 2015. Good value for the club and some security for Jason. Too bad it doesn't include another year.

Or several more years. But seriously, I am delighted. Nicely done. I hope a couple of other guys are next.

[mossy]

I like it. Was getting worried Jason wouldn't want to work with the FO at all.

Next up, Freddie...

[mcollier]

Freddie Freeman: 2 years/$12 million

Do this deal Frank and Freddie, and Chipper will throw in free towing service for winter storms!

[yeezus]

this is great, gives hope for the future as well.

[thethe]

What a nice piece of news in a mostly dissapointing time to be a Braves fan. Hopefully this guy is here for many years after this deal.

[The Chosen One]

Still think Heyward will be in pinstripes when he hits FA. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[skillet]

Heyward receives a $1MM signing bonus, a $4.5MM salary in 2014 and a $7.8MM salary in 2015. So in essence he will get $5MM this year, $.2MM less than the $5.2MM figure we offered, in exchange for a potentially higher $8.3MM in 2015. Good to get this done and not have to go to trial with him. That benefits nobody. Would have like to have seen another year or two added to this, but getting this done is a lot better than going to arb trial.

[zitothebrave]

The Heyward deal is a fantastic signing by Wren. Would have liked to lock him up longer, but overall it will save the Braves a pretty penny.

[Enscheff]

Temporary good news. I guess those who criticized Frank Wren for not giving Hey the extra 300k or whatever it was he was asking for can give him a compliment for getting this done.

Compliment Wren for signing Heyward through the 2 years he was already under team control for about what he would have made in arbitration? Now the Braves have taken on all the risk with a guaranteed contract and gotten nothing in return.

Why, exactly, does this deserve commendation?

[depley]

finally some good off season news

[zbhargrove]

Compliment Wren for signing Heyward through the 2 years he was already under team control for about what he would have made in arbitration? Now the Braves have taken on all the risk with a guaranteed contract and gotten nothing in return.

Why, exactly, does this deserve commendation?

Because arbitration causes conflict in many cases. This tells Heyward the Braves want him here and want to work with him. This also tells us that Heyward will work with the Braves... its a very good thing.

[gilesfan]

Arent't these his last 2 years of arbitration? The team has Heyward no matter what. All they did was lock in the rates to which he would be paid.

If anything, this is a great deal for Heyward, not as good for the Braves.

[drewdat]

Agreed that this is pretty much a neutral overall and probably a negative as far as Heyward's long-term future with the team. Maybe it helps his trade value though (just trolling).

Sounds like Freeman will get a long-term extension, so that's step 2. Now we just need to lock up Uggla long-term.

[zitothebrave]

Arent't these his last 2 years of arbitration? The team has Heyward no matter what. All they did was lock in the rates to which he would be paid.

If anything, this is a great deal for Heyward, not as good for the Braves.

Heyward has a strong season this year he earns way more than his arb number, if he has a weak season odds are he makes around what he makes next year anyway.

[Heyward]

Joel Sherman ‏@Joelsherman1 1h

#Braves were approached after arb exchange by Heyward reps about doing multi yrs. Issue made tougher because Heyward’s injuries skew stats, but sides were able to bridge and buy out rest of his arbitration period. #Braves

Meh, if he has a great/MVP year and stays healthy, maybe he'll get paid longterm, seems unlikely though.

[nsacpi]

Joel Sherman ‏@Joelsherman1 1h

#Braves were approached after arb exchange by Heyward reps about doing multi yrs. Issue made tougher because Heyward’s injuries skew stats, but sides were able to bridge and buy out rest of his arbitration period. #Braves

Meh, if he has a great/MVP year and stays healthy, maybe he'll get paid longterm, seems unlikely though.

I think it will be easier to eventually reach a long-term deal with Heyward now that Freeman is done. Even though Freeman is the better hitter and has been more consistent and durable so far, Heyward is the better all around player and is more valuable if healthy. I wouldn't mind paying Heyward a higher AAV than Freeman for his free agency years.

[thethe]

I think it will be easier to eventually reach a long-term deal with Heyward now that Freeman is done. Even though Freeman is the better hitter and has been more consistent and durable so far, Heyward is the better all around player and is more valuable if healthy. I wouldn't mind paying Heyward a higher AAV than for his free agency years.

And hopefully the relationship they have will make it easier for Jason to stay long term. I'd feel so much better about the future if Freeman/Heyward were here long term.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Lets see...................Uggla's deal is up in two years. The deal for Heyward is two years............................

Might not mean that much, but still................

[nsacpi]

Lets see...................Uggla's deal is up in two years. The deal for Heyward is two years............................

Might not mean that much, but still................

Also Justin Upton and Medlen hit free agency at the same time. Money is not really an issue in terms of keeping Heyward. I think the issue that is keeping a long-term deal from happening right now is that Heyward has not established the same kind of consistent track record as Freeman. He probably feels he should be paid according to his 2012 season. But his 2011 and 2013 seasons were not the same in part due to injury. Hopefully he has a great 2014 and he and the team can come to a meeting of minds. As I said earlier I wouldn't mind Heyward getting a higher AAV than Freeman for his free agency years.

[Tapate50]

Joel Sherman ‏@Joelsherman1 1h

#Braves were approached after arb exchange by Heyward reps about doing multi yrs. Issue made tougher because Heyward’s injuries skew stats, but sides were able to bridge and buy out rest of his arbitration period. #Braves

Meh, if he has a great/MVP year and stays healthy, maybe he'll get paid longterm, seems unlikely though.
Well they don't really skew them. Sounds like Heyward didn't like the real numbers he put up to base the offer on....

[nsacpi]

Well they don't really skew them. Sounds like Heyward didn't like the real numbers he put up to base the offer on....

I think that's right. If he had put consecutive seasons like his 2012 season, they would have probably reached a deal.

[Heyward]

Well they don't really skew them. Sounds like Heyward didn't like the real numbers he put up to base the offer on....

Last year was kinda fluky from an injury standpoint, got hit in the face with a baseball for christ sakes.

That being said, i'd still offer him 10/200 right now.

[Tapate50]

Last year was kinda fluky from an injury standpoint, got hit in the face with a baseball for christ sakes.

That being said, i'd still offer him 10/200 right now.

Yeah, but what was the excuse before that? He was awful for almost half the year.

[cajunrevenge]

Sure would be nice if Heyward put together the kind of year we all know he could produce. No more of this hitting under .200 for long periods of time ****.

[BremanFan88]

Yeah, but what was the excuse before that? He was awful for almost half the year.

An extremely low BABip. "Awful" is harsh when you see his walks were up, k's were down and defense was golden. Of course if you are someone that doesn't think that means anything then we should lock up Chris Johnson quick.

[Heyward]

Yeah, but what was the excuse before that? He was awful for almost half the year.

Awful is a bit ridiculous.

He's still young, so im not sure why you were expecting him to win MVP.

He's still an elite defender, great base runner, yes at times he goes in funks, what player in baseball doesnt?

[Heyward]

Lets see...................Uggla's deal is up in two years. The deal for Heyward is two years............................

Might not mean that much, but still................

Would imagine Uggla's money would go to 1 of JUp/Heyward/Medlen.

Or a combination of two.

Or a FA.

[KB21]

An extremely low BABip. "Awful" is harsh when you see his walks were up, k's were down and defense was golden. Of course if you are someone that doesn't think that means anything then we should lock up Chris Johnson quick.

I think that had he not missed about 210 plate appearances on the year, we are likely looking at a 5+ WAR season from Heyward. The biggest difference between 2012 and 2013, aside from the injury, is that Heyward posted a low BABIP that is likely unsustainable for him and will likely rebound this year. He also had a career ISO in 2012, whereas his ISO from '13 was more in line with the rest of his career.

[Julio3000]

Kid's gonna make this one a bargain. I hope this signifies a willingness to work long-term.

[Tapate50]

Awful is a bit ridiculous.

He's still young, so im not sure why you were expecting him to win MVP.

He's still an elite defender, great base runner, yes at times he goes in funks, what player in baseball doesnt?

It wasn't "good". I certainly didn't say MVP , exaggerate much?

[Heyward]

It wasn't "good". I certainly didn't say MVP , exaggerate much?

wasnt awful either, a bit unlucky.

[thewupk]

Kid's gonna make this one a bargain. I hope this signifies a willingness to work long-term.

Unless he were to have an MVP type season (which is certainly possible) this deal is about what he would earn anyways just going to arby this year and next. It's pretty fair. But I do see this a willingness to work on a long term deal.

I think both the Braves and Heyward are just playing out the waiting game. Will Heyward become the player most see him as or will he be what he has been so far in his career. That will be a major factor in what he gets once he becomes a free agent. Personally I see the Braves extending him after 2015 season but before he can talk to other teams.

[thewupk]

It wasn't "good". I certainly didn't say MVP , exaggerate much?

Heyward has only been 'not good' in one year in his career. He's streaky. A lot of players are.

[skillet]

Heyward will make $5.5MM in 2014 and $7.8MM in 2015 that could go up to $9.425MM based on performance targets, so the deal is 2 years $13.3MM to $14.925MM. So basically he got what he was asking for in 2014 plus a raise of between $2.30MM to $3.925MM in 2015. Sounds like a fair deal for both sides.

[Julio3000]

Unless he were to have an MVP type season (which is certainly possible) this deal is about what he would earn anyways just going to arby this year and next. It's pretty fair. But I do see this a willingness to work on a long term deal.

I think both the Braves and Heyward are just playing out the waiting game. Will Heyward become the player most see him as or will he be what he has been so far in his career. That will be a major factor in what he gets once he becomes a free agent. Personally I see the Braves extending him after 2015 season but before he can talk to other teams.

It's a fair deal, I like it because it gives Jason some upside protection, doesn't preclude locking him down later, and demonstrates goodwill on the part of the club. Just knowing that he's interested in talking long-term is good news, IMO. They couldn't get together on numbers, but doing this means that the Braves don't compromise their later chances with ill-will from the arb process, etc.