Free agent outfielder Jason Heyward agreed to a deal with the Chicago Cubs on Friday. However, the Cubs have yet to confirm it.
Terms of the deal haven’t been reported. Heyward reportedly had a $200 million offer for at least seven or eight years on the table, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, which was the first to report the news.
The Cubs were not the highest bidder for Heyward, according to reports. The St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals, and the Los Angeles Angels were the other teams that were trying to get Heyward.
Heyward was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2007. Last offseason, he was traded to the Cardinals. He hit .293 with 13 home runs and 60 RBIs, helping the Cardinals have the best record in baseball at 100-62 and win the NL Central title this year, according to ESPN. He also had a WAR of 6.5 and won his third Gold Glove award this year.
Heyward has a .268 average with a .353 on-base percentage and 97 home runs, 352 RBIs, and 86 stolen bases in his six seasons in the majors.
Heyward becomes the second free agent that the Cubs have signed from the division rival Cardinals in the last week, joining John Lackey, who signed a two-year, $32 million deal with the Cubs. Hayward is expected to be the Cubs' center fielder.