February 11: The Padres have formally introduced the deal. Per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Heyward is assured $1MM with one other $250K accessible through incentives. Jon Heyman of The New York Publish offers particulars on these incentives, with Heyward getting $50K for attending to 200, 250, 300, 350 and 400 plate appearances.
February 7: The Padres have reached settlement with Jason Heyward on a free agent deal, stories Dennis Lin of The Athletic. Lin signifies that Heyward is anticipated to separate time in left subject with San Diego’s different latest free agent pickup, Connor Joe. Phrases are unreported, nevertheless it appears prone to be a one-year main league deal for the Excel Sports activities Administration shopper. The Padres have 4 openings on the 40-man roster and might accommodate Joe and Heyward with none corresponding strikes.
Heyward is headed into his age-35 season. He has spent the previous two years as a left-handed platoon bat within the nook outfield. That position suited him fairly properly in 2023. Heyward caught on with the Dodgers after being launched by the Cubs earlier than what would have been the ultimate season of his eight-year contract. He had his finest offensive exhibiting in a while, hitting .269/.340/.473 with 15 homers throughout 377 plate appearances.
The Dodgers introduced him again on a $9MM contract early final offseason. He was unable to match the earlier yr’s manufacturing. Heyward missed six weeks early within the season rehabbing a decrease again harm. He hit pretty properly instantly upon his return however suffered a bone bruise in his left knee initially of July. That knocked him out of motion for one more three weeks. He fell right into a droop upon getting back from that harm. The Dodgers designated him for task in direction of the top of August.
Heyward was sitting on a .208/.289/.393 line when the Dodgers minimize him. He rapidly landed an enormous league cope with the Astros, the place he fared a bit higher in a small pattern. Heyward hit 4 homers in 24 video games with Houston, posting a .218/.283/.473 slash throughout 61 journeys to the plate. He cracked the playoff roster and bought the beginning in left subject for Sport 2 of Houston’s Wild Card collection loss by the hands of the Tigers.
Between the 2 groups, Heyward completed the yr with a .211/.288/.412 slash over 258 plate appearances. He posted roughly common strikeout and stroll charges whereas exhibiting a little bit of energy, connecting on 10 homers in round a half-season’s value of enjoying time. He hit numerous ground-balls to the pull aspect, although, an method that wasn’t conducive to sturdy ball in play outcomes. His .226 common on balls in play was a profession low; solely seven hitters with 250+ plate appearances had a decrease BABIP.
Heyward has solely taken 50 plate appearances in opposition to left-handed pitching over the previous two seasons. He’s hitting .188 with a .220 on-base proportion in that tiny pattern. The Padres will restrict him to virtually solely going through right-handers. He had a .214/.298/.422 line with the platoon benefit final yr and is 2 seasons faraway from a powerful .276/.347/.471 exhibiting in opposition to righties. It’s unlikely that he’ll get again to the ’23 degree, however he can probably flip in barely above-average numbers with the platoon benefit. Joe, a right-handed hitter, had a .251/.353/.418 line in opposition to left-handed pitching over his two seasons with the Pirates.
The Friars used David Peralta as a lefty platoon nook outfielder final season. He hit .273/.329/.431 throughout 234 plate appearances in that position — sturdy work for a participant who joined the crew on a minor league deal in the midst of Might. Peralta stays unsigned, whereas the Friars didn’t make a critical effort to retain Jurickson Profar due to payroll limitations. A Heyward/Joe platoon goes to be a big step down from Profar’s sudden .280/.380/.459 efficiency. They had been inevitably going to downgrade on the place. Profar performed final season on a $1MM wage, making him the most important cut price signing of final offseason.
Neither the Joe nor Heyward phrases have been reported, however they’ll every be modest offers. They be part of Elias Díaz’s $3.5MM signing as San Diego’s free agent acquisitions this winter. RosterResource calculates their aggressive steadiness tax payroll round $247MM (pending the Joe and Heyward offers). That places them about $6MM above the posh tax threshold; they ended final season with a CBT quantity within the $228MM vary. A late-offseason commerce to clear payroll and add reasonably priced assist to the again of the rotation stays a chance.
Picture courtesy of Imagn.
