Fansided

5 players that won the MLB off-season

By Jason Evans

Dec 17, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco senior vice president/general manager Bobby Evans shakes hand after the signing of pitcher Johnny Cueto at a press conference at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco senior vice president/general manager Bobby Evans shakes hand after the signing of pitcher Johnny Cueto at a press conference at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
CHICAGO, IL- DECEMBER 15: Jason Heyward during an introduction press conference on December 15, 2015 at Spiaggia Restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL- DECEMBER 15: Jason Heyward during an introduction press conference on December 15, 2015 at Spiaggia Restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) /

1. Jason Heyward

What does a player get who’s never driven in more than 100 runs, hit above 25 homers once, never had an OPS over .850 and has made one career All-Star game get?

How about eight years, $184 million with a $20 million signing bonus and not only one, but TWO opt-outs. Yeah, I’d sign that contract too.

Jason Heyward is the quintessential sabermetric player and that helped him cash in and make him our number one winner of the off-season. The Cubs added John Lackey and Ben Zobrist as free agents, but Heyward was the big addition for the club.

Heyward posted a WAR of over six in three of his first six seasons. In the previous two seasons, he has saved a total of 54 runs.  The Cubs are hoping those skills translate to center field, where he will be predominantly playing in 2016.  His OBP has been trending up the past four years, which the Cubs hope can continue. His strikeout percentage is trending down as well.

These five players are cashing in this off-season and can cash in the future. These five are the players who won this off-season.

Home/Arizona Diamondbacks