The Cardinals Need to Resign Jason Heyward

If there is one imperative this offseason for the St. Louis Cardinals, it is that the team resign right fielder Jason Heyward.  Heyward was acquired this past offseason in a trade in which the Cardinals sent pitcher Shelby Miller to the Atlanta Braves. Heyward had a terrific season for the Cardinals this year, hitting .293 with 13 homeruns and stealing 23 bases. These are decent offensive numbers.  But when combined with Heyward’s defense, which won him a Gold Glove this year, and the fact he is still only 26 years old, Heyward is a prime free agent this year. 

Heyward’s past numbers alone may not seem like they merit a large contract, but it must be taken into consideration that Heyward is just now reaching his prime years.  Most players do not reach free agency at this young of an age.   Most players Heyward’s age are just making it to the major leagues, let alone already having an established, all-star career.  Heyward is only going to get better as he continues to mature. 

Heyward was vital to this team.  After being acquired to fill the void left by the death of right fielder Oscar Tavares, Heyward was a staple on the team.  He was a solid, middle of the order bat and provided consistency in the lineup when injuries plagued the team all throughout the year.  Heyward brought much needed speed to the basepaths, where the Cardinals have been very lacking in recent years, stealing 23 bases.  Heyward also played outstanding, Gold Glove defense in right field.  Another area where the Cardinals had bad lacking in recent years was outfield arm strength.  Heyward has one of the best throwing arms of all major league outfielders.  All this being said, and remember, he should only get better. 

However, the most important reason the Cardinals need to resign Heyward is they need a new franchise player.   When Albert Pujols was here, he was the franchise player.  He was the guy the team was built around.  After Pujols left, Matt Holliday became the franchise player.   Holliday is older now and not quite the player he was when he came here.  The Cardinals need someone to take that mantle and they don’t have anyone else on the team who fits that bill.  Matt Carpenter is a very good player but isn’t a guy you build the team around.  Randall Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty could both develop into that type of player but they are not there yet.  Yadier Molina is the best catcher in baseball and still the most irreplaceable player on the team but he is not offensively adept enough to label a “franchise player”.  Jason Heyward fits that bill.  Franchise players don’t come around very often. They Cardinals need Heyward to be on this team. 

Now what do the Cardinals do if they are unable to resign Heyward?  I say they use the money they would have spent of Heyward and use it to sign a couple of players.  First, they should sign Ben Zobrist.  Zobrist is what one would call a “super utility” player.  He can play anywhere.  Infield, outfield, you name it, he can do it.  The Kansas City Royals acquired Zobrist at the trade deadline and that worked out pretty well for them as they went on to win the World Series.  What Zobrist would bring is depth.  He can spell guys like Jhonny Peralta and Carpenter, who both suffered from fatigue this year.   He could also play some right field if needed, since Heyward would not be here anymore.  But most importantly, he could play his main position, second base.  Kolten Wong has struggled to show he can be a consistent, everyday second baseman.  Perhaps learning some under Zobrist would do him some good.  As well as Zobrist, the Cardinals should sign first baseman Chris Davis.  The biggest issue for the Cardinals this past year was a lack of power.  Chris Davis would easily help solve that.  Davis has hit 159 homeruns over the past four years and totaled 47 this past season.  To put that in perspective, the Cardinals top two hitters combined for 45 homeruns last year.   The Cardinals need power and Chris Davis can provide that.  That being said, signing Heyward should remain the first priority, but these two players provide a solid back up plan.