The Chicago Cubs decided to drop a bombshell tonight. Expected, maybe. Hoped for, certainly. But major news nonetheless: Jason Heyward’s time playing for the Chicago Cubs has come to an end.
Team president Jed Hoyer announced it before tonight’s game:
It had become an unspoken assumption that Heyward would not be returning this season, or at least not until there was zero chance he was taking developmental at bats away from anyone else. Since it appears that unlikely circumstance will not arise, that’s it for Heyward and the Cubs.
What’s significant about announcing this now is that the Cubs are confirming they will eat the final year of Heyward’s contract in order to open up the 40-man roster spot he would have otherwise taken this offseason. It was certainly HOPED that the Cubs would do that, since there was no real chance that Heyward could compete for a job next year in the crowded outfield group, but it was not a guarantee.
I don’t love that it’s such an unceremonious ending for Heyward’s time with the Cubs, but I do love that they are making this commitment now. There will be time to celebrate the good memories Heyward created with the Cubs – yes, there were some! – but today, this is just the right move. It was time. Good decision, Cubs.
No matter how much we felt it was time to move on from Heyward (or how long we’ve felt it), there’s no sense of celebration tonight. At least not for me. He’s a great teammate who worked hard, and the performance just wasn’t there. I’m not dancing. I’m just nodding and saying this is the right move.
I expect Heyward will get a proper send-off later this year, and announcing this now is part of that process of transitioning. He can still be with his teammates for a couple more months, and have more time to make the next set of plans.