Young talent pushing Heyward for time in OF
MESA, Ariz. — The highestpaid outfielder in Cubs history has six more years left on a contract that averages about as much per year as the seven other openingday position starters will make this year combined.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean Jason Heyward is a lock to hold down the every- day right- field job if Ian Happ, Albert Almora Jr. and Kyle Schwarber keep progressing and producing.
Manager Joe Maddon reiterated Sunday that Happ, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2015 draft, will start the opener in center field and get a chance to run with the leadoff job as long as he looks like he can handle it.
“I’m not just going to flip- flop it around,” said Maddon, who also has 2014 first- rounder Schwarber penciled into left field and lauded the job 2012 first- rounder Almora did in the second half last season and at the end nd of spring training. trainle
Is it possible that contract considerations s could take a back seat to performance when it comes s to playing time if the young guys earn the time?
“I’m not going to say it’s imid
impossible,” said Maddon, emphasizing mt that he hasn’t formalized - a lot of his lineup t h o u g h t s yet.
“I just want to stay openminded. I have faith in everybody out there. I feel good about everybody ody out there. Not every very manager manrived can say that. Everybody out there deserves to play.”
That hasn’t always been the case during the first two years of Heyward’s $ 184 million deal.
Heyward, who said a goal coming into camp was to stay on the field every day this season, struggled enough to get relegated to platoon work during parts of both seasons, including the 2016 postseason.
His spring has not looked especially promising when it comes to reversing that trend.
“It’s going to be a juggling situation,” said Maddon, who plans to rotate his bench into the lineup from the start of the season, including Ben Zobrist through several positions in the outfield and infield.
“I think they’re all committed to team right now,” Maddon said. “I don’t think anybody will bellyache if they’re not playing a little bit, if somebody’s playing more than they are. I think we’ve arrived at that point where wh they know two thin things: that we’re here to w win, and they also know t that if they stay ready, theirth opportunity is going to be there, too.”