Cardinals: Ouch! Second player that heads to bitter rival within a week

Byyankeebiscuitfan

The other day, the Chicago Cubs announced that they had signed RHP John Lackey to a two-year deal worth $32 million. Lackey played the 2014 and  2015 season for the Cardinals, who made him a qualifying offer in the off season. In parts of two seasons with the Cards, Lackey went 16-13 with a 3.11 ERA, a 3.27 K/BB ratio. He kept his opponents to a .265 batting average in 2014 and a .256 average during last season.

Probably the Cardinals expected him to leave as they made him a qualitying offer. But losing a player to your arch enemy is never nice.

Jason Heyward, here still with the Braves

But if that wasn’t enough, a second player moved to the North siders.
OF Jayson Heyward, acquired in a trade with the Braves in the 2014-2015 off season has signed a $184 million eight-year deal with the Cubs. Intriguing detail is that he turned down offers made by the Cardinals and Nationals that would have earned him more money than this deal. His contract will have two opt outs, the first after the 2018 season.

This deal is a smart move by the Cubs as Heyward batted .310 with four home runs, five doubles and 13 RBIs in 25 games in Wrigley FIeld. Heyward had his best year in 2015, hitting .293 in  154 games, hitting 13 home runs, 33 doubles and four triples. With a .353 OBP, he may be an option for the top of the lineup.

The Cubs have been very aggressive during the Winter Meetings. Last week they also signed versatile Ben Zobrist to a four-year, $56 million deal.

Kris Bryant was clearly content with the deals that Theo Epstein had made so far:

 

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