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Jason Heyward sounds like a man ready to bring the Chicago Cubs their first World Series in more than a century. Introduced at a press conference Tuesday, the newly signed outfielder made his goals for championship glory clear.

“It’d be a beautiful thing to win a World Series for one,” Heyward said, per Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. “It’s a no-brainer that it would be making history here.” 

Heyward, 26, agreed to an eight-year, $184 million contract on Dec. 11. He chose Chicago over hard pushes from the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals, with the former reportedly offering him more money, per CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman.         

The Cubs won Heyward over by allowing for player options following the third and fourth seasons, which will likely allow Heyward to maximize his earning potential. Heyman also reported the deal will have a full no-trade clause from 2016-18 and a $20 million signing bonus that’s deferred in case of a work stoppage.

“As far as recruiting they [the Cubs] didn’t have to do too much,” Heyward said, per the Associated Press (via The Score). “They basically let the product on the field speak for itself.”

Heyward spent the 2015 season with the Cardinals, hitting .293/.359/.439 with 13 home runs and 60 runs batted in. He also stole 23 bases and continued to develop a reputation as one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball. FanGraphs ranked him third behind the Tampa Bay Rays‘ Kevin Kiermaier and the Toronto Blue Jays‘ Kevin Pillar.

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Fortunately for Jason Heyward, the Atlanta Braves thought they had a chance to win in 2010. Unfortunately for Stephen Strasburg, the Washington Nationals knew they didn’t.

Both Heyward and Strasburg were young phenoms that spring. The Braves put Heyward on their Opening Day roster. The Nationals had Strasburg make 11 minor league starts before calling him up for a much-hyped major league debut on June 8.

This matters in December 2015 because Heyward was a free agent who just agreed to a $23 million-per-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. Strasburg is stuck for one more year in a salary-arbitration contract that will likely pay him somewhere around $10 million, and he won’t be a free agent until next winter.

It matters because this year, two players filed grievances complaining about service-time manipulation, bringing the issue to arbitration and raising hopes MLB will find a way to end the ugly but profitable game teams often play with the current rules.

“There’s always flaws in every sport, and over time, things change,” one of the players, Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, told the Huffington Post’s Jordan Schultz. “Hopefully, this is something that can get changed.”

It won’t be easy for reasons as big as the difference between the Heyward and Giancarlo Stanton contracts. It won’t be easy because we’re talking about millions of dollars—or tens of millions.

The Cubs sent Bryant to the minor leagues after a monster spring training, with manager Joe Maddon explaining, per MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat, that “when you look at the entire picture of development, you’re still looking for a couple other areas to improve a little bit.”

Seventeen days later—conveniently, just long enough to delay Bryant’s free agency by a full year—the Cubs decided his “entire picture of development” had improved just that little bit. Bryant joined the Cubs, became the National League Rookie of the Year and helped carry the Cubs to their first postseason appearance since 2008.

Bryant ended the season with 171 days of service time. Maikel Franco finished with 170 days after the Philadelphia Phillies kept him in the minor leagues until May 15. Both Bryant and Franco filed grievances, as Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports first reported.

Passan suggested the grievances could be resolved during bargaining for baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement and that they could lead to changes in the CBA to limit the service-time game.

As Bryant told the Huffington Post, he’s “kind of going to bat for the people after me.”

And for the rest of us, whose only interest is in seeing the best players compete in the major leagues. The system, as it stands, includes a huge incentive for teams to keep some of those best players out of the major leagues longer than necessary.

It’s been going on for years, from Evan Longoria with the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays to Strasburg and Stanton in 2010 with the Nationals and Florida Marlins, respectively. It’s hard to blame teams for doing it because not only is there big money at stake, but the extra year before free agency can help them keep a key player for one more year.

And that’s exactly why it will be tough to get the system changed, even if Bryant or Franco wins his grievance or if new rules are negotiated because of the grievances.

No matter how they draw it up, there has to be some dividing line to decide when a player is eligible for free agency. No matter how they set that up, a team can gain by delaying when players cross that line.

Perhaps a player could gain his first full year of service time if he has even 75 days in the major leagues that year, or 100 days (rather than the full 172). Teams could still hold top players back, but the penalty for doing it would be much greater.

If the Cubs had held Bryant back to make sure he ended 2015 with fewer than 100 days, it easily could have cost them their playoff spot.

One American League executive said Sunday the Franco decision could impact teams more than the Bryant ruling because what the Cubs did with Bryant seemed so “obvious.” What the Phillies did with Franco, while also fishy, seemed more like what many teams do with many players every year.

If you don’t believe it, read what Passan wrote for Yahoo about Strasburg back in April 2010:

All that’s preventing Strasburg from pitching Sunday in the big leagues, as opposed to Altoona, Pa., is a clause in baseball’s collective-bargaining agreement that for 20 years has encouraged teams to keep their most talented players in the minor leagues simply to avoid paying them more in the long run.

He was right then, and what has happened to Strasburg since has proved it. Strasburg is still with the Nationals, still not eligible for free agency for another year.

And the Braves?

With Heyward having a big rookie year, they did make the playoffs in 2010. But they traded Heyward last offseason, knowing he was already within a year of free agency. The deal helped them in their rebuilding process, but they were forced into it because back in 2010 they were the rare team that didn’t try to game the system.

Five years later, maybe it’s time to change the system.

Danny Knobler covers Major League Baseball as a national columnist for Bleacher Report.

Follow Danny on Twitter and talk baseball.

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The Chicago Cubs haven’t won the World Series in 107 years. If they have it their way, the counter won’t reach 108 years.

And man, oh man, do they appear to be serious about that.

Fresh off a thrilling 97-win season and a trip to the National League Championship Series in 2015, Cubs bosses Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have been busy making moves meant to take them even further in 2016. By far the biggest of these went down Friday. 

As Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times was first to report, the Cubs have agreed to terms with star right fielder Jason Heyward:

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, Heyward’s deal is for eight years and $184 million. Hall of Fame journalist Peter Gammons notes the deal also contains two opt-outs, with Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago reporting the first comes after three years. So, understand that this is less of an eight-year contract and more of an “eight-year contract.”

Still, an eight-year, $184 million pact for a 26-year-old who was, by my estimation, the top player left on the market going into Friday qualifies as a sweet deal. For the Cubs, that’s just another on the pile.

The Cubs had already made a couple of splashes before signing Heyward. They dropped $32 million on veteran right-hander John Lackey and $56 million on veteran utility man Ben Zobrist. They’ve also rounded out their pitching depth by bringing back Trevor Cahill and bringing in Adam Warren.

Next to the addition of Heyward, however, these splashes look like mere ripples.

As recently as 10 or 15 years ago, much of the baseball world wouldn’t have had a lot of appreciation for Heyward. It would have looked at him and seen a .268 career hitter with only modest power and good-not-great speed. Sure, his fielding was great, but not good enough for those pedestrian numbers.

But now, we know better.

Among other things, we now have wins above replacement! It so happens that WAR has loved Heyward ever since he came into the league in 2010. In six seasons, the former Atlanta Brave and St. Louis Cardinal checks in as one of MLB‘s 10 most valuable position players on Baseball-Reference.com’s WAR leaderboard.

Of course, we can debate exactly where Heyward belongs on the pantheon of the league’s great position players. Where there’s no debate nowadays, though, is that he is indeed a great player.

Heyward’s .784 career OPS isn’t great, but it’s good enough to qualify him as an above-average hitter. And with a strong eye, a consistent contact habit and solid power, Heyward’s bat offers something for everyone.

We also know Heyward brings it on the bases and on defense. Regarding the former, simply pointing out that he’s stolen over 20 bases in three of the past four seasons actually undersells the work he does with his speed and instincts. On defense, those things plus a strong, accurate arm have made him baseball’s highest-rated defender in his six seasons.

“That’s his real strength – how many different ways he can help you win a game,” said Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday of his now-former teammate back in September, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I think his kind of player was valuable 15 years ago, it’s valuable now, and it might even be more tangible statistically than ever. Maybe his style of play gets more attention.”

Mind you, this is not to say Heyward doesn’t come with any risk. He could cost the Cubs as much as $184 million if he forgoes his opt-outs, so he’s plenty risky on that front alone. And though he’s absurdly young for a free agent, we noted recently that Heyward won’t be much to look at if his baserunning and defense abandon him.

But for every risk, there’s a potential reward. And where these Cubs are concerned, the potential reward of signing Heyward is definitely something for North Siders to be excited about.

The one wrinkle is that it doesn’t sound like the Cubs are going to be using him in right field. Center field is where they have an opening, and Jon Morosi of Fox Sports has reported the Cubs “appear willing” to use Heyward there.

Ordinarily, the idea of taking a high-priced right fielder and moving him to center would be an idea with the “Disasters” label on it. But Heyward is an exception. He has played center field in the past, and August Fagerstrom of FanGraphs is of the mind that “Jason Heyward is going to be Jason Heyward, wherever he plays.”

After 2015, Heyward being Heyward in center field must have a nice ring to it for the Cubs. By one measure, their center field defense was among the worst in baseball in 2015. Heyward in center field should help fix that, at least until prized center field prospect Albert Almora is ready.

So, that’s one area where the Cubs have improved this winter. And now for the fun part of counting off a few others!

It was mainly thanks to a 50-win second half that the Cubs won 97 games in 2015. A big ingredient in that was Chicago’s offense getting its stuff together. After OPS’ing just .690 in the first half, Chicago’s offense OPS’d .754 in the second half.

Thanks to that, we now know what can happen when the likes of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber all click at once. They haven’t gone anywhere, and now they’ll be batting behind two new table-setters. Heyward figures to bat leadoff in front of Zobrist in the No. 2 hole, giving the Cubs a kind of power-contact dynamic they didn’t have in 2015.

Throw in the high-ceiling bats of Addison Russell and Jorge Soler and the steady bat of Miguel Montero, and Matt Snyder of CBS Sports is right about Chicago’s lineup suddenly looking loaded:

Meanwhile, there’s what the Cubs have on the mound.

That’s where they didn’t necessarily need to upgrade. According to FanGraphs, Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester led a charge that put the Cubs rotation atop MLB in WAR in 2015. Led by Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop, their bullpen finished fourth in the league in WAR.

But why let a good thing lie when you can make it even better?

Lackey is coming off a 2.77 ERA across 218 innings in 2015, so he looks like an excellent No. 3 starter even if we assume he’s due for some regression. Cahill and Warren, meanwhile, can work either as long relievers and spot starters or as late-inning firemen. With them aboard, the Cubs have one of the deeper and more versatile bullpens around.

When you get out your abacus and add up what the Cubs are now packing, you’re left with very few, if any, things to rant and rave about. We’re looking at a team that won 97 games in 2015 and has upgraded its offense, defense, starting rotation and bullpen.

The Cubs haven’t been the busiest team in baseball this winter. There’s a team in Seattle that has a strong claim to that title. But if we’re talking about already good teams that have taken steps toward greatness this winter, that’s where the Cubs have owned the spotlight.

On paper, the Cubs look way more loaded than the Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates, their two big NL Central rivals. The same goes for the New York Mets. And the Los Angeles Dodgers. And the…well, here’s a better idea: Go ahead and name a team that is more loaded than the Cubs at this juncture.

[Pause]

Pretty hard, right?

Darn right it is. And though it’s too soon to assume the Cubs are going to remain on top of MLB, for now it’s hard to argue that’s not where they are. They became a championship-caliber team in 2015, and all they’ve done this season is press their advantage.

Clearly, they’ve had about enough of that damn billy goat. After 107 years, you would too.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted/linked.

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Understatement: St. Louis Cardinals fans have not taken the news well that Jason Heyward has left for Chicago.

After the report that the outfielder signed an eight-year, $184 million deal with the Cubs, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, some fans took a page out of Cleveland’s book and opted to give J-Hey a warm, crackling farewell a la LeBron James—burning his jersey, of course.

Considering the Cardinals lost pitcher John Lackey to Chi-Town as well, it’s not surprising to see at least one fan become unhinged. Division rivalries make people do crazy things.

[h/t The Score]

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For the second time in as many years, Jason Heyward is on the move, agreeing to a deal with the Chicago Cubs.

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times first reported the news. Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman have since confirmed Heyward is headed to the Cubs.

Heyman indicated Heyward likely gave the Cubs a discount:

Rosenthal confirmed that both the Nationals and Cardinals are believed to have offered Heyward over $200 million. 

Wittenmyer added the deal is for eight years, while Rosenthal reported it was worth $184 million. Peter Gammons of MLB Network noted the deal contains two opt-out clauses, while Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago added the first opt out was after just three seasons. 

ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark explained why the Cubs splurged to add a premier outfield talent:

Heyward, who spent the 2015 season with the St. Louis Cardinals, is one of the unsung superstars in baseball. He’s not a traditional star, with his home run totals sitting in the mid-to-high teens for most of his career, but his ability to get on base, steal bases and play elite defense in right field has made him a valuable asset.

According to FanGraphs‘ metrics, Heyward has been worth more than five wins above replacement three times in the past four years. Even in 2013, he was worth 3.4 WAR despite playing just 104 games due to injuries.

The Cardinals opted to let the 26-year-old test free agency, with general manager John Mozeliak saying in September any negotiations between the two sides would take place in the offseason.

This deal is a bold risk for the Cubs, though Heyward was always going to have his share of suitors. One general manager told CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman last offseason that a $200 million deal for the former All-Star wouldn’t be a surprise.

“He’s the best defensive right fielder in the game. He’s young. He has upside. He’s a leader with great makeup. And his WAR is higher than Giancarlo Stanton,” the GM said.

Despite the large financial commitment, Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reported the Cubs may not be done yet this offseason:

Stars Heyward’s age don’t hit the market very often, so it’s easy to see why he became one of the most coveted players available. Now, Heyward takes his tremendous skill set to Chicago. He’s a true difference-maker who does so many things so well that everyone around him will be even better.

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Close your eyes, Washington Nationals fans, and picture it: Bryce Harper and Jason Heyward, two of the game’s most dynamic young players, roaming the outfield together.

It’s far from a sure thing, but it’s also not an impossible dream.

The rumor, which dropped as the winter meetings were wrapping up in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday, came courtesy of CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman:

Heyman added Heyward is “said to have a $200 million offer,” more likely from St. Louis or Washington than from the Chicago Cubs—the outfielder’s other possible suitor. Heyman mentioned a possible unnamed fourth interested party as well.

That figure is no surprise. The 26-year-old Heyward is one of the winter’s most coveted free agents. If Zack Greinke and David Price can sail past the $200 million mark, why not him?

And remember, the Nats were the team that swooped in and signed right-hander Max Scherzer last offseason for $210 million to cap off their supposed super-rotation.

Scherzer pitched well, twirling a pair of no-hitters, but the Nationals’ season crumbled into a heap of injury and infighting.

Now, they’ve got a shot at redemption. Why not aim for it with a super outfield, anchored by a pair of legit five-tool studs? Call them the 10-tool twosome. 

There are a lot of ways to illustrate how good a Harper-Heyward tandem would be. While wins above replacement (WAR) is an imperfect stat, it works just fine here.

By FanGraphs’ measure, Harper paced the field in WAR with a 9.5 mark. Heyward, meanwhile, checked in at No. 17 in the game with 6.0 WAR. That combined 15.5 mark would have been the highest of any two teammates in the game, eclipsing the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ Clayton Kershaw (8.6) and Greinke (5.9), who combined for 14.5 WAR.

Harper was the superior hitter last year in his breakout National League MVP season, as he cracked 42 home runs with an eye-popping 1.109 OPS. But Heyward turned in a well-rounded offensive performance of his own, posting a .293/.359/.439 slash line and stealing 23 bases.

Oh, and he was the best defensive right fielder in the game.

Speaking of which, right field in the nation’s capital is currently occupied by Harper, who started 139 of his 151 games there. His other starts came in center field, but the more likely move would be to put Heyward there. 

Heyward started only eight games in center in 2015, but the three-time Gold Glove winner’s range and leather are more than adequate to man the position full time. Or, at least, until veteran Jayson Werth—who is owed $42 million over the next two seasons—vacates his outfield spot.

As long as we’re looking down the road, it’s worth asking if sinking big bucks into Heyward would preclude the Nationals from locking up Harper when he hits the market after the 2018 season. It’s entirely possible the answer is “yes.”

But here’s another perspective: The Nats might not be able to sign Harper at that point—Heyward or not. Remember, Harper just turned 23 in October, meaning he’ll be slightly younger than Heyward is now when he inevitably tests free agency, and he will have likely put up gaudier numbers.

With deep-pocketed suitors such as the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and basically everyone else with two nickels to rub together lining up, Harper could land a deal that makes Giancarlo Stanton’s $325 million pact with the Miami Marlins look like couch-cushion change.

A similar argument can be made about right-hander Stephen Strasburg, who will become a free agent next winter, as Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal noted:

We’re getting ahead of ourselves, though. For this season, and the next couple of seasons, a Harper-Heyward union has the potential to rock the MLB world. These are generational talents. And while nothing is guaranteed, putting them in the same dugout could be one of the more face-meltingly awesome experiments in recent baseball history.

Would it be enough to propel Washington past the defending NL champion New York Mets and their stellar young rotation? There’s no telling, though the fact that Heyward has tagged Mets pitchers to the tune of a .917 career OPS has to make the Washington faithful smile a little.

They’ll be smiling a lot if this rumor turns out to have legs. Sure, it may be another hot-stove mirage—one of many pulse-raising scenarios that remain forever in hypothetical limbo.

“Heyward to D.C.” didn’t sound probable in mid-November if you listened to Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo.

“I wouldn’t think we’d be big players for one of the big free-agent outfielders,” Rizzo said at the time, per James Wagner of the Washington Post. “We like the three guys that we have. We think Michael Taylor is going to be a terrific major league player.”

A lot can change in a month, especially this time of year. And it has, if the chatter is to be believed.

So go ahead and close your eyes, Nats fans. You had a rough season. You deserve to dream big.

All statistics and contract information current as of Dec. 11 and courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

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Johnny Cueto and Jose Fernandez are just two of the big league stars whose future has yet to be determined as the winter meetings recede into the background and the 2015-2016 MLB offseason rolls along.

In addition to Cueto, there are at least a couple of prominent players who are still waiting to hit the free-agent jackpot. Meanwhile, Fernandez isn’t the only dynamic major leaguer who just can’t seem to shake all those pesky trade rumors.

After taking an inventory of all the action in Nashville, Tennessee, here’s a breakdown of the biggest questions (and answers) from the baseball week that was.

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The transaction wire was flooded in the days leading into this week’s Major League Baseball winter meetings, and it did not stop over the first two days in Nashville, Tennessee. 

But by the time Day 4 concluded Thursday, the final official day of the meetings was mostly uneventful and much of the wire activity consisted of minor or mid-level moves. Still, all can be significant to the teams involved even if the signings and trades don’t necessarily move the needle.

The biggest news to the market came from the Baltimore Orioles who reportedly revoked their approximate $150 million offer to Chris Davis, and three teams being named as the finalists for Jason Heyward’s services.

The biggest signings were from the reliever market with Jonathan Broxton headed back to the St. Louis Cardinals and Tony Sipp re-signing with the Houston Astros. On the trade front, Yunel Escobar is headed to the Los Angeles Angels.

We analyze those rumors and deals, along with the others, coming out of the final day of the 2015 MLB winter meetings.

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The 2015 MLB winter meetings have not disappointed, as several high-priced players have been made available either through free agency or via trade.

Yet, the market for offensive firepower has been relatively quiet to this point, but with the winter meetings set to close at the end of the day Thursday, we could see some last-minute deals done before the general managers part ways.

1. Jason Heyward makes his long-awaited decision

It seems clear that Jason Heyward is going to make his decision before the winter meetings draw to a close.

Heyward is the key to opening up the outfield free-agent market, as Alex Gordon, Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton are all waiting to see how much the lefty is offered before agreeing to contracts of their own.

The Cardinals and Cubs appear to be at the forefront of the conversations surrounding Heyward, who will ultimately decide which NL Central club is more appealing. St. Louis was the best team in the major leagues during the regular season, winning 100 games while winning the division crown.

But the Cubs were arguably the most surprising team of 2015, and their surplus of young talent should appeal to Heyward.

Theo Epstein isn’t afraid to pay free agents, as evidenced by the Ben Zobrist signing, but St. Louis will likely emerge victorious in this bidding war.

After seeing how valuable Heyward was at the plate and in the field, it just wouldn’t make sense for the Cardinals to let him go. Heyward gets paid and will be a Cardinal for years to come.

2. Chris Davis returns to Baltimore

One of the biggest sluggers on the market, Chris Davis, remains available, although several teams seem reluctant to pay a guy who struck out 208 times the $200 million he is supposedly requesting.

The Orioles were one of those teams reluctant to meet that price tag but still remain the favorite to land Davis.

However, Davis has 126 homers over his past three seasons, which has to intrigue some teams who struggled to hit the long ball in 2015.

The Orioles seem to have shown the most interest in Davis throughout the offseason and would be willing to reopen previous talks if his price comes down.

In the end, Davis signs with Baltimore for less than he is currently asking for after realizing he’s not likely to get the same long-term deal from other teams.

3. Todd Frazier heads to Cleveland

Cincinnati has a slugger of its own in Todd Frazier, one it had to trade in order to truly kick off the great Reds rebuild of 2015.

Frazier is an intriguing option for many teams, as his 35 home runs make him a middle-of-the-order threat. What makes him even more valuable is his defense, as he finished as a Gold Glove finalist at third base in 2015.

At first, it seemed the Angels were a perfect fit, but their weak farm system and unwillingness to pay the luxury tax have likely soured any deals for a player of Frazier’s caliber.

Cleveland has emerged as a front-runner in the Todd Frazier sweepstakes, and it has enough young pitching depth to make the deal happen. The Indians would likely have to part ways with a starting pitcher such as Carlos Carrasco to make the trade happen, but they appear to have enough depth to consider it as a possibility.

Carlos Santana led the Indians with just 19 homers in 2015, so Frazier could step in and become the power threat this team desperately needs.

Right now, Cincinnati’s asking price seems to be too high for Cleveland to agree to a deal, but if the Reds bring down their offer, expect the Indians to pounce and make a trade happen.

So now we’ve talked about some of the big bats on the market, but how about those remaining pitchers that could be available?

4. Johnny Cueto becomes a Cardinal

Johnny Cueto is now the most sought-after starting pitcher on the free-agent market. Cueto‘s performance in Game 2 of the World Series only increased his value, and the fact he is still 29 years old makes him an easy long-term commitment.

Despite both the Dodgers and Giants acquiring starting pitchers this offseason, Cueto remains linked to the NL West rivals. However, the Dodgers appear more inclined to work on their bullpen, while the Giants are targeting outfield help as a main priority.

St. Louis is a potential landing point; however, many Cardinal fans still remember this moment in one of the ugliest brawls in recent memory. 

According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, though, Cueto‘s agent sees the Cardinals as a likely fit for his client’s services.

Houston and Seattle are also looking to fill voids in their starting rotations, but Cueto‘s asking price will likely be out of either team’s range, especially with cheaper options on the market like Scott Kazmir.

In the end, St. Louis will sign Cueto to a large deal, and all will be forgiven in St. Louis when he leads the Cardinals back to another division title in 2016.

5. Andrew Miller is traded to the Dodgers

The last deal that has some potential would be a trade between the two wealthiest teams in baseball: the Yankees and the Dodgers. 

After seeing their trade for Aroldis Chapman go absolutely haywire due to possible domestic violence charges, the Dodgers appear to have moved on and set their sights on Yankees closer Andrew Miller.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports believes Miller is now the top priority for a Dodgers team seeking bullpen help.

While he doesn’t throw 100 miles per hour on a regular basis like Chapman, Miller still features a dominant fastball and a nasty slider.

L.A. seems to have made it a priority to add another solid bullpen arm to go alongside Kenley Jansen, and Miller fits the bill perfectly.

The Astros were the other team with major interest in Miller, but after trading for Ken Giles, their interest in the Yankees lefty has waned. 

With a strong farm system and enough of a budget to take on incoming contracts, a deal between the Dodgers and Yankees seems highly likely. 

With spring training still almost three months away, all we can do is wonder how each offseason move will impact teams in 2016.

But if the last day of the winter meetings is anything like the first three, we’re in for a roller-coaster ride full of trades and giant contracts for players who could be leading their new teams to playoff success in 2016.

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Free-agent outfielder Jason Heyward figures to be one of the biggest prizes of the entire 2015 Major League Baseball offseason, and the Chicago Cubs reportedly have their eyes on him after a National League Championship appearance last year.

Continue for updates.

Cubs Reportedly Focusing Resources on Heyward

Monday, Dec. 7

According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, Heyward “is said to be seeking at least eight years and could command $20 million or more per year.” However, Wittenmyer confirmed the Cubs are “focusing the money they saved” in an effort to land the outfielder.

General manager Jed Hoyer said, “We have some available resources; I think that much is clear,” when asked about targeting an outfielder, per Wittenmyer. The report also indicated signing Heyward or another outfielder could lead to a trade of right fielder Jorge Soler as Chicago looks to add more depth in a number of different areas, including starting pitching.

Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com added, “The Cubs have envisioned Jason Heyward batting leadoff and playing center at Wrigley Field, according to a source familiar with the team’s thinking, but it will take several steps to turn that dream into a reality.”

There are a number of things that make Heyward so attractive to the Cubs in that scenario.

For one, he is only 26 years old and is hitting the open market in the middle of his prime. Many times, teams sign free agents based on past accomplishments and are stuck with that player as he declines in his 30s (the Cubs experienced that when they signed Alfonso Soriano in 2006). That likely wouldn’t happen with Heyward for at least a few more years.

Heyward would also slide right into the centerfield and leadoff spot that free agent Dexter Fowler occupied last season. The Cubs need to replace Fowler in the field and the lineup, and they would do just that with one free-agent acquisition if it was Heyward.

Heyward also sports a .353 career on-base percentage and could set the table for sluggers Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo throughout the season and wouldn’t be asked to provide too much power (he hit 27 home runs in 2012 but never reached 20 in any other season).

Perhaps most importantly, the Cubs would add a three-time Gold Glove winner to their outfield who struggled in the field during the NLCS loss to the New York Mets. Even if Chicago converted Heyward from right field to center, his 122 total defensive runs saved above average during his six seasons, according to FanGraphs, is a testament to just how talented he is with the glove.

He is also young enough to cover ground in the middle of the outfield and could theoretically help cover for any defensive deficiencies Kyle Schwarber, who played catcher in the minor leagues, shows in left on balls in the gap.

Heyward would also represent yet another piece of the St. Louis Cardinals’ core from a season ago that the Cubs signed this offseason after they landed starting pitcher John Lackey. St. Louis won the National League Central and is Chicago’s primary division rival and main obstacle standing in the way of sustained postseason success.

Any signing that strengthened the North Siders and weakened the Cardinals will play well in Wrigley Field in 2016.

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