For the Chicago Cubs, trading away Tyler Chatwood or Jason Heyward and their contracts would have been difficult in any market. After the record high walk rate that Chatwood had last season and the drop in offensive output that Heyward has had since joining the Cubs, their contracts are close to unmovable. The Cubs would need to eat so much of their salary that certainly Heyward and perhaps even Chatwood is more valuable to the Cubs on their roster than the Cubs would save by trading them away. The Cubs don’t want to become a team that is paying players to play for other teams.
Chicago Cubs: Down free agent market creates financial conundrum
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