Fansided

Let’s take a look at the most cringeworthy MLB contracts fans have to live with

By Brad Berreman

SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 13: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels plays during a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on August 13, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 13: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels plays during a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on August 13, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

4. OF Jason Heyward, Chicago Cubs

The Cubs ponied up for Heyward in December of 2015, with an eight-year, $184 million deal. In three seasons, he has hit .252/.322./.367 with 26 home runs. He has won two Gold Gloves (2016 and 2017) for his work primarily in right field, but his defensive metrics dropped virtually across the board last year and center fielder Albert Almora was better in Defensive Runs Saved (9, to 6 for Heyward) and Defensive WAR (1.1, to 0.1 for Heyward).

The Cubs owe Heyward $106 million over the next five seasons, though he does have the right to opt-out after the 2019 season if he reaches 550 plate appearances (via Baseball Reference). For what it’s worth he has not even topped 500 plate appearances since 2016 (592), his first season with the Cubs. So it seems unlikely he’ll earn the right to opt-out, and even if he could there’s no reason he would with the kind of money he’s got coming to him through 2023.

Chicago is stuck with a top-level (but apparently declining, as he enters his age-30 season) defensive outfielder who strikes out a little too much, hits too many ground balls and doesn’t make enough forceful contact for a man his size. A bad investment like that is the kind of thing that drives the reported mandate to cut costs from Cubs’ ownership.

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