Please lock up Heyward - I am not kidding

[Heyward]

If he demands $20-$25M a year we better send his ass packing this offseason. I would love to lock him up but definitely not close to that. I'm very curious what he's asking for.

Ok, i'll ask you something.

If we dont keep Heyward, who replaces him.

He frustrates me with his offensive struggles but we dont have much of a choice but to pay him and hope the light clicks for him as he gets older.

If we can re-sign him.

I'd trade JUp given the market for RH power is bare if we can re-sign Heyward.

To stock up the system some.

[emk418]

Ok, i'll ask you something.

If we dont keep Heyward, who replaces him.

He frustrates me with his offensive struggles but we dont have much of a choice but to pay him and hope the light clicks for him as he gets older.

If we can re-sign him.

I'd trade JUp given the market for RH power is bare if we can re-sign Heyward.

To stock up the system some.

Again, I'm not saying he won't eventually break out and easily be worth $20M-$25M a year. But we've seen multiple times how these long term big money contracts cripple this team when they don't work. I would love nothing more then to keep Heyward here for life but it's taking a huge risk paying $20M a year for potential. He's the best defensive OF in the game but I'm not paying $20M a year for defense.

It's just my opinion but if I'm Hart, I spend the next few weeks judging what kind of money it would take for an extension. If he's demanding north or $20M a year I trade him and get his replacement. Again, I can't say enough how my preference is to keep him long term but we need to be reasonable as I'm sure Hart is.

[jpx7]

I trade him and get his replacement.

Ay, there's the mother-****ing rub, right there.

[emk418]

Ay, there's the mother-****ing rub, right there.

I think Aoki is a very solid short term stopgap IF (and a big IF) we get A LOT of long term value elsewhere in a Heyward trade. I will again say that my priority is to lock up Heyward to a reasonable long term contract.

[Heyward]

I think Aoki is a very solid short term stopgap IF (and a big IF) we get A LOT of long term value elsewhere in a Heyward trade. I will again say that my priority is to lock up Heyward to a reasonable long term contract.

Who and what would you trade Heyward for, just curious?

[emk418]

Who and what would you trade Heyward for, just curious?

I honestly don't know. It's so early and depends on what teams are interested. It's difficult to tell what kind of trade value Heyward has. Some teams may be scared off by the contract he might get a year from now and others may overpay for his potential. So I'm honestly not sure. Very curious to hear some actual rumors pop up.

[Hudson2]

Boston is the first team that comes to mind if we were to trade Heyward. We'd need to upgrade CF and 3b to if he were traded.

[chipchildress]

Who and what would you trade Heyward for, just curious?

offense.

probably won't get what you should so don't do it, but if you can, you have to trade him. his defense isn't scoring the braves runs and runs are the biggest need and it isn't close. that and a solid starting pitcher maybe.

[yeezus]

I bet the Royals are glad they didn't give up on Gordon.
Same with the Brew Crew and Gomez.
Heyward is 25 and has shown a lot of offensive potential. He will be fine. Premier defender.

[thewupk]

offense.

probably won't get what you should so don't do it, but if you can, you have to trade him. his defense isn't scoring the braves runs and runs are the biggest need and it isn't close. that and a solid starting pitcher maybe.

Let's not act like Heyward is some bum offensively. He's one of the actual good hitters on the team. I think a better approach is trying to get something resembling a decent hitter at 3rd, center, and 2b. That might help a bit.

[Enscheff]

The only way I trade JUp or Heyward this offseason is if another club gives a young premium MLB talent at a position of need that is controllable for 4+ years. Positions of need are SP, CF, and 3B. I'm going to assume no team would bother trading a premium CF talent for 1 year of Heyward since they could just stick with their young guy. I'm also going to assume that the Braves view CJ as the starter at 3B.

So that leaves a SP as the only possible return I would accept for either JUp or Heyward. This SP would have to be a potential TOR guy, and he would have to have at least 4 years of control left.

Trade JUp for this imaginary SP and then sign Cruz to play LF. Something like that would be acceptable.

[Heyward]

offense.

probably won't get what you should so don't do it, but if you can, you have to trade him. his defense isn't scoring the braves runs and runs are the biggest need and it isn't close. that and a solid starting pitcher maybe.

Names?

[emk418]

I bet the Royals are glad they didn't give up on Gordon.
Same with the Brew Crew and Gomez.
Heyward is 25 and has shown a lot of offensive potential. He will be fine. Premier defender.

Gordon was coming off a year where he hit .303/.376 OBP/.879 OPS with 23 HR and 45 doubles when he signed the extension. It was also a 4 year $50M contract. Completely different situation comparing him to Heyward who may require $20M plus per year

[yeezus]

Gordon was coming off a year where he hit .303/.376 OBP/.879 OPS with 23 HR and 45 doubles when he signed the extension. It was also a 4 year $50M contract. Completely different situation comparing him to Heyward who may require $20M plus per year

And did you see all his seasons before that? He was nowhere near the player Heyward has been thus far. Which further proves my point.

[emk418]

And did you see all his seasons before that? He was nowhere near the player Heyward has been thus far. Which further proves my point.

How exactly does that further prove your point? Gordon signed a 4 year $50M extension the year AFTER putting up a better year then Heyward has ever had offensively. That extension came in spring training the year directly after his big breakout. We're trying to lock up Heyward after he's regressed offensively for two years.

[thewupk]

How exactly does that further prove your point? Gordon signed a 4 year $50M extension the year AFTER putting up a better year then Heyward has ever had offensively. That extension came in spring training the year directly after his big breakout. We're trying to lock up Heyward after he's regressed offensively for two years.

Not true. WRC+ of 121 in 2012 and 120 in 2013. Hardly a regression.

[NYCBrave]

How exactly does that further prove your point? Gordon signed a 4 year $50M extension the year AFTER putting up a better year then Heyward has ever had offensively. That extension came in spring training the year directly after his big breakout. We're trying to lock up Heyward after he's regressed offensively for two years.

Gordon might be an interesting negotiating starting point for Heyward when determining his value.

[Heyward]

Gordon might be an interesting negotiating starting point for Heyward when determining his value.

He signed for 4-50 with some team options, Heyward isnt signing for that.

[NYCBrave]

He signed for 4-50 with some team options, Heyward isnt signing for that.

All I'm saying is they have been comparable players over the past 4 years, you could even argue Gordon has been better.

WAR past 4 season:

Gordon: 6.6, 5.6, 3.5, 6.6
Heyward: 2.0, 6.3, 3.4, 5.1

[cajunrevenge]

This idea that we can't replace Heywood with 20 million dollars a year + whatever players/prospects we get is ridiculous. He isn't Babe Ruth. Maybe we don't replace his a carbon copy of Heywood but we can improve other areas to make up for the difference. I would rather have average players at 2b/3b/cf/Rf than have Heyward and 3 black holes fill those spots.