The Atlanta Braves agreed to a two-year deal with Jason Heyward, buying out his final two arbitration years for $13.3 million, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Earlier, the two sides had exchanged arbitration figures with Heyward filing for $5.5 million and the Braves filing for $5.2 million.
Just 24, Heyward is one of the best players in baseball, and unless he signs an extension, should be one of the top free agents of the 2016 offseason. Even though he’s missed time with injuries, Heyward has posted 16.5 fWAR over his first four seasons.
Heyward debuted at 20, and made the All-Star team that season, posting a .277/.393/.456 line for a 134 wRC+ and 4.7 fWAR despite a thumb injury that hampered him through most of June and July. 2011 saw Heyward undergo a bit of a sophomore slump, thanks in large part to an in-play batting average that dropped from .335 to .260, and an ISO that fell from .179 to .162.
Heyward slumped through the first half of 2013, hitting a woeful .227/.324/.371. He picked things up in a big way in the second half, hitting .305/.397/.534 with half of his 14 home runs. Unfortunately, he was hit in the face by a pitch, and broke his jaw, ending his season after only 104 games. Though his ISO dipped from .210 to .173, and he stole only 2 bases, Heyward still managed to post 3.4 fWAR in limited playing time.
Looking forward to 2014, Heyward projects to be one of the top players on a Braves team that will face stiff competition from the Washington Nationals as they seek to defend the NL East title. Steamer projects a .271/.362/.479 line with 21 home runs for a 135 wRC+ and 4.8 fWAR.
Perhaps Heyward hasn’t lived up to the almost impossibly lofty expectations Braves fans had for him when he was named the Opening Day starter at just 20 years old. Nevertheless, they should enjoy him while they can, because it’s not often that a very good player hits free agency at 26, and Heyward’s play will likely price him out of the Braves’ budget.
