I
cannot recall such vile vitriol from a city and fan base after a player
leaves via free agency.
When the Cubs signed Jason Heyward, Cardinal fans went nuts on social media. The insults were harsh and stupid. The St. Louis media also jumped on this hate bandwagon, calling Heyward "disloyal," a "traitor," and a "Benedict Arnold." They could not believe Heyward turned down a "better" offer from the Cardinals to play for the hated Cubs.
Heyward only played for the Cardinals for one
year! He did not come up through the St. Louis system; he was an Atlanta
Brave for most of his career.
And if
you break down his new deal, the Cubs actually are paying more than the
Cardinals AAV deal. With the signing bonus and the op out clause, the
Cubs are paying Heyward $26 million/season for the first three years.
Is
this still crass bitterness that the Cubs defeated the Cardinals in the
post season?
Or the impending fear and doom that the Cubs are now a
championship caliber team?
But Heyward's explanation of his decision is noteworthy.
In his introductory press conference this week, Heyward explained that
he was drawn to the Cubs in part because of the roster stability he
expects them to have going forward.
“Knowing the core is young and those guys are going to be around for a while is very exciting,” Heyward said, according to ESPN. “I
don’t want to take the highest dollar amount when my gut is telling me
to go somewhere else. Being 26 years old and knowing that my contract
would put me in any clubhouse for longer than most people there, you
have to look at age, how fast the team is changing and how soon those
changes will come about.”
