Say goodbye.
The Chicago Cubs have released veteran outfielder Jason Heyward, according to NBC Sports Edge.
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Heyward played just 48 games this season as he was dealing with right knee inflammation. He had signed an eight-year, $184 million contract in 2016, so the Cubs will eat the remaining $22 million.
The five-time Gold Glove Award winner was an All-Star selection for the Atlanta Braves in 2010 and helped the Cubs to their 2016 World Series Championship.
Back in May, ESPN insider Buster Olney speculated that the New York Mets could target Heyward in a trade this season. That didn’t happen, but now that he’s a free agent, the Mets may show some interest especially if Brandon Nimmo signs elsewhere.
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Here’s what his agent Scott Boras said about the market for Nimmo at the GM meetings last Wednesday. Per the New York Post:
“Boras said Wednesday that ‘the majority’ of MLB teams have already checked in on Nimmo …’There are a lot of teams in the free-agent market that are in the waters for a center fielder….You are looking at a guy that there are no center fielders in our game that are available. And then you add leadoff to that and then you add … on-base percentage to that, and he’s an excellent defender and then also he can play in New York. When you have those elements that are there, he becomes a very integral part of what we found for a team to win 100 games. He’s a very proven commodity and there are very few that can replace him.'”
The Mets could also look internally if Nimmo leaves. Earlier this month, general manager Billy Eppler told Sherman and Jon Heyman of the New York Post on The Show podcast that the Mets could slide Starling Marte over to center if they lose Nimmo. “We are comfortable with [Marte] in centerfield,” he said.
The Mets announced on Nov. 3 that Marte had surgery to repair a core muscle injury sustained in the second half of this season. According to the Mets, the typical recovery timeline for this injury is eight weeks, and he is expected to be ready to play without restriction in Spring Training.
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Bridget Hyland may be reached at [email protected].