Jason Heyward couldn’t beat the Cubs, so he joined them as the most coveted free agent position player of his class. Heyward spurned both the Cardinals, who had pried the Atlanta native free from the only organization he’d ever known in a big 2015 trade, and the Nationals to take less money from the Cubs because he felt Chicago was a better fit personally and professionally.
I understand not everyone reading this has the same opinion of Heyward’s value, but it’s impossible to deny his impact as a leader on that title team. And if you feel the word “albatross” burbling its way from your brain to either your lips or your keyboard, consider stifling that response and looking a little more closely at the team’s payroll.