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The Case for Trading Jason Heyward

By Alan Carpenter

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This is getting a lot tougher.  No, I don’t think Jason Heyward should be traded away.  I don’t think the fan base would stand for it.  I also have to believe that Jason wants to get into a contract extension to stay in Atlanta.

But I also have to think that all options must be on the table for the Braves this off-season.  And thus, we will do our due diligence here – and explore the reasons for why trading a past-and-future Gold Glove right fielder might make sense.

And just in case y’all just think this is merely an academic exercise… there are interested teams:

UPDATE:

Pros

  • In early 2014, Jason could not quite get together with Frank Wren on a long-term deal, but he and his agent did settle on a pact to cover 2014-15, with some unspecified incentives.  Thus he is under contract for just 2015.
    • Jason Heyward

    . Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

    If Hart (or whoever) cannot get an extension done with him by February, then a ‘Martin Prado‘ situation may develop.  In that case, it was better to go ahead and trade the player – getting a decent return – than losing him with no compensation after the season.  The same scenario could come into play with Jason.

  • Jason has been all about change at the plate – and can’t seem to figure out how he wants to hit.  He lacks consistency simply because he isn’t consistent himself.  Should the Braves continue to wait until he finds something that works?  For how long?
  • Sure, he was “worth” 5.2 fWAR (6.3 bWAR) this year… near his career highs.  But can he sustain that?  Can he improve from there?  Are those phantom figures given that his defensive contribution was so great in 2014?   As with Justin Upton, maybe selling high is a good strategy.
  • Even if you ignore the batting stance stuff, Jason has been productive, which is clearly indicative of his raw talent as an athlete.  His hustle and personal drive are obvious, and teams will value that.  Another reason to sell him at age 25 – with peak years seemingly in front of him.  Teams that can’t get Giancarlo Stanton will still stand in line for a chance at Jason Heyward.

    • Cons

  • Braves fans truly embrace 3-4 players on the roster right now:  Freddie Freeman, Craig Kimbrel, Evan Gattis, and Jason.  Freddie lead in 2014 jersey sales, though Heyward has been #1 among the Braves in past years – a causal glance around the park shows this.  Losing him would be a dagger.  GM’s do pay attention to such things, for they will impact ticket sales.
  • What can you possibly do to replace Jason Heyward in right field?  Joey Terdoslavich?  I might have actually said “maybe” to that a year ago, for at that point, Joey at least looked like “Jason-light” by comparison.  Not sure his AAA numbers will translate to the majors, though.
    • Nick Markakis

    . Current status: unemployed. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

    External options: go check the list of free agent outfielders available this Fall.  Tell me who you’d rather have patrolling RF in Atlanta.  The best option I see is Nick Markakis… and I’d much rather pay Jason what he wants.  I don’t even have a suggestion for second place on that list.

  • Jason was trying to adjust his swing to being that of a lead-off hitter – not a thumper.  He was being a “team guy”.  Put him in the right spot in the order – 3rd or 5th – and he’ll be just fine.  Part of the problem with his hitting has to be Fredi jerking him around the lineup (he has 50+ career games batting 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th).  But we need ‘team’ guys… give him an extension and he could prove to be the clubhouse leader needed.
  • People use the words “potential” and “inconsistent” with Heyward, sure.  But we’re hardly talking “Jeff Francoeur potential”… we’re talking about a talent who has been performing well even while we’re still awaiting that ‘break-out’ year.  You don’t throw that away.  He’s still improving.
  • Jason has reduced his strikeouts overall – under 100 this season.  His walk rate is excellent and his OBP was .351 (matching career average).  He also led the team in steals (20 – tie with B.J. Upton).  Isn’t this exactly the kind of player you want to have going forward?

    • Sure, go find a true leadoff hitter (and we have one – if we can just figure out where Jose Peraza is going to play) and transition Jason back to #3 with Philip Gosselin or Tommy La Stella in the 2-slot.  Now – with Freeman at 4 or 5 – you have a dynamic lineup with speed and run-production and the top.  There are constant threats available in that group.

    But Jason needs to be in the middle of that.  Sign him:  don’t trade him

    What it Comes Down to

    Jason grew up in Atlanta.  The Braves are his home team.  I feel like the question now is whether he believes that the team is on the right track for the future.  If he thinks so, then I believe he’ll be happy to ink a long-term deal – and that the new management will be equally happy to extend him a mutually-equitable offer.  Honestly, I think the odds just improved with Frank Wren’s departure, given the changes that have occurred in the weeks’ since then.  But that’s clearly not my decision to make.

    But if he thinks Atlanta is not on the right track, then the Braves may have no option but to move him during this off-season, for I’m not convinced that he’ll quite rise to the level of the Qualifying Offer that would justify keeping him for the balance of the next year.  Mind you, his trade value is very high today.  Without an extension, that value becomes zero next October.

    So we shall all hold our collective breath, as this one could hurt.

    The Case for Trading Jason Heyward – TomahawkTake.com

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