The Cubs have placed outfielder Jason Heyward on the 10-day IL due to a left hand injury and recalled outfield prospect Greg Deichmann for his Major League debut, per a club announcement.
Deichmann, 26, only recently joined the organization when he was traded over from the A’s in the deal that send lefty Andrew Chafin to Oakland. He’s had a slow start in seven Triple-A games with the Cubs, but his overall body of work this season has been quite strong; in 285 plate appearances, Deichmann is batting .291/.425/.439 with four homers, 16 doubles, three triples and eight steals (in ten tries). He’s walked at a gaudy 18.9 percent clip that’s more than double the current MLB average and punched out at a 22.8 percent rate that would sit below today’s MLB average.
That keen eye at the plate is one of Deichmann’s calling cards and one of the reasons he’s been a fairly well regarded prospect in the A’s system despite not yet tapping into his considerable raw power. Deichmann has drawn a free pass in 13.2 percent of his career minor league plate appearances since being selected out of Louisiana State University by the A’s in the second round of the 2017 draft.
While Deichmann has never topped 11 home runs in a minor league season, he did swat nine long balls in just 95 plate appearances in the 2019 Arizona Fall League. He ranks as the Cubs’ 20th prospect at MLB.com and at FanGraphs, where Eric Longenhagen puts a hefty 70 grade (on the 20-80 scale) on his raw power. Deichmann has been used exclusively in right field this year, though he saw very brief spells at first base and in center earlier in his career. He’s not a burner on the bases or in the outfield, but scouting reports peg him for an average or slightly better arm.
Moving forward, Deichmann has the makings of a left-handed-hitting corner outfielder with some pop and strong OBP skills, though given his sub-.600 OPS against lefties over the past three minor league seasons, he may benefit from a platoon partner. The Cubs can certainly afford to give him consistent at-bats for the rest of the season, particularly with Heyward on the injured list. At the moment, Deichmann joins Ian Happ and Rafael Ortega in a largely overhauled Cubs outfield scene.
There’s no indication as to how long Heyward is expected to miss, but there ought to be room for a two-month Deichmann audition even if it’s a minimal absence for the soon-to-be 32-year-old Heyward. In 284 plate appearances this season, he’s batted just .198/.271/.322. The Cubs still owe Heyward a $22MM salary in both 2022 and 2023.
Can’t be worse than the grossly overpaid Heyward.
Cubs sign Jacoby Ellsbury
Not sure if you’re joking or being serious but Ellsbury is the highest overpay in baseball history next to Cano
Seriously, Cano is the name you pull out? That isn’t even top 25. He was good for most of that deal so far.
Cano has twice saved his employer for separate long unpaid suspensions due to violations of the substance abuse policy. NYM should make him employee of the month with how much he’s saving them.
Chris Davis says hi
Josh Hamilton has his feet up on the coffee table wishing you all well
Jason Bay is up from his nap.
Yeah, and funny how he started losing strength and power once he signed the big contract. Despite the testing, there are still players out there testing the system. If you can get away with it for a couple years – or even just during your walk season – you can sign a $200MM deal and then get off that stuff and what do you care?
In my opinion the worst contract in baseball is the Strasburg contract based on total dollars paid and the production I believe he will create. That contract looked bad from the start. They’ve already paid him $70 million for almost nothing and now they owe him another $175 million for what will likely amount to almost nothing. The Chris Davis contract is probably 2nd. I feel bad saying it but based on current and likely future production combined with the total contract value I think Miguel Cabrera contract might be 3rd. He has been a pretty below average hitting DH recently and they still owe him a ton of money every year until he’s 40. The Heyward contract is pretty bad though. Right up there with Pujols and even Mo Vaughn. I think Robinson Cano comes after all those guys. From a total WAR per dollar paid standpoint the worst contract has been the BJ Upton contract. he got paid over $75 million to post negative wins above replacement. He was the only guy getting paid dozens and dozens and dozens of millions of dollars to do nothing but help LOSE games. I don’t rank him as high personally though because IMO a $75 million contract just isn’t even nearly close as capable of destroying the future of a franchise as a $200 or $300 million contract that stretches into a players late 30’s or even 40’s. The Jacoby Ellsbury, Prince Fielder and David Wright contracts are all really bad as well. I know insurance is covering most of their salaries because they are injured but their salaries still effect the teams payroll and luxury cap space and all 3 of those guys were paid a lot of money to not even show up for years and years on end. I’m trying to think if I missed any more terrible contracts. Dustin Pedroia maybe? I feel bad saying that one as well because it wasn’t a super expensive contract and he was only out because Machado intentionally injured him but any time a player makes $12+ million a year for years and years in a row when he can’t even take the field it’s a pretty bad contract. The Mauer contract was pretty bad and the Hosmer contract is still pretty bad. Who am I missing for both the past and the present? Unless you wanna start counting Bruce Sutter and Bobby Bonilla I’m drawing a blank.
Of course Mark Mulder, Mike Hampton, Matt Carpenter, Justin Upton and Barry Zito were all bad as well. The Rockies had to trade away a superstar like Juan Pierre at the beginning of his career just to get 2 other teams to agree to pay half of Hamptons contract while the Rockies still paid the other half. That 2 year $66 million extension the Astros gave Verlander is pretty bad too since he got injured at the very beginning of the extension and never played again and now the contract is basically over. On a recent note, the Ozuna and Bauer contracts look pretty bad as well. No one knows what will happen with them but the sheer fact the Dodgers are likely paying Bauer a record shattering $45 million for next year alone and he likely won’t even play for them is terrible. I have to say the Anthony Rendon contract is starting to look on the wrong side of valuable, too. Can anyone else think of of any obviously bad contracts I missed? maybe Kevin Brown, Darren Dreifort, Darren O’day, and Raul Mondesi? Of course there is always B.J. Ryan’s record breaking deal with the Blue jays he couldn’t stay healthy for. Man… There really are a ton of examples of terrible major league contracts.
Of course the Ender Inciarte contract was bad for the Braves. They have been paying him almost $10 million a year for awhile now to be terrible every year. Mike Moustakas is looking like a bad deal for the Reds. MLBTR had him projected to get a 2 year $20 million deal. Instead the Reds decided to pay him like he was going to produce exactly like Castellanos and gave him a shocking 4 year $64 million contract. Actually… just going down this list I am starting to see why some fans dislike certain players getting paid so much. That is A LOT of bad or seriously overpaid players dragging their teams payroll flexibility down without producing enough to make it worth it. Almost every team has to be effected with that number of players. And those are only the ones I happened to think of at the time.
Do the Dodgers and Braves have to pay Bauer and Ozuna through their suspensions?? I thought they lost that money, hence the point of the suspension.
they’re both getting paid right now, but once (or if) they’re suspended, neither team has to pay them
White Sox sweep this weekend – no matter
who plays for Cubbies (“lovable losers”)!
You are truly the most pathetic person on here.
The only point he ever has is the one on top of his head.
Hmm metsfan22 exists too…
Lovable losers. Guess which baseball team in Chicago has Never made the playoffs back to back years. Hint — it’s not the Cubs.
That will change this year but if the Cubs are lovable losers than the Sox are just losers
Probably, but the Cubs will still be more popular than the White Sox. Stings doesn’t it???
Please let this not represent white Sox fans.
Oh but it does.
One down… 2 to go!!
TWO down… one to go!!!
Sweep tomorrow!
SWEEP AS PREDICTED!
9-3 bottom of 7th. But I am calling it now.
This game was over after first pitch of game!!!! Go TA#7!!
2 Eloy HR’s and 10 K’s by Cease in 5 innings pitched.
I’d say Cubs were fleeced in that Quintana trade!
Cubs embarrassed in nationally televised ABC game!
Ugh. Chafin is nice, but I loathed how Oakland kept promoting Skye Bolt over Deichemann, when Deichmann should have been the 4th OF from day one this year. Can’t wait to see how that bat plays in MLB.
Deichmann wasn’t on the 40 Man Roster whereas Skye Bolt was and Bolt had already been called up. No sense in starting someone’s arbitration clock to sit on the bench as a 5th OF.
Don’t get me wrong; Bolt is garbage and I loathe the idea of him in the A’s organization. Just suggesting there was a rationale.
Why worry about that if you intend to trade the guy it becomes someone elses poblem.
Just put him in the lineup and let him play. The Cubs have nothing to lose. I would say they need to do more of this–some of these prospects are ready to try out, see what happens! Ortega has been hot, but is he a long-term answer? Happ has been a bust except for one season. Madrigal and Hoerner are really the only long-term players (both on il of course), Contreras will be traded before next season. Bring up Amaya, Davis, et. al., give them a chance.
Happ has been a bust except one season?
2017: 842 OPS, 113 OPS+
2019: 898 OPS, 129 OPS+
2020: 866 OPS, 133 OPS+
Even in 2018 with a down year he was 102 OPS+ which is just above league average. Calling him a bust except for one year is just downright lazy
CubsHope5 – you’re cherry picking the stats. Happ has struggled every season except a portion of 2020. While being a league leader in contact strength, he remains hot and cold at the plate. Happ also appears to decide to swing at pitches before they are released (guessing at the plate). That’s why his strikeout rate is consistently high. Baez does the same. He is a converted outfielder and it shows. Very mediocre there and lacks speed. The Cubs have provided Happ with a multitude of chances to improve. Perhaps more than any other in Cubs history. He better get with it. We real Cubs fans are getting impatient.
Well said,as a Brewer fan , who closely follows the cubs!
Cherry picking? He described him as a bust, which he clearly is not. I didn’t say he was an all star- I was simply saying calling him a bust is just lazy
OPS over .800 coming into this year.
He’s still a very erratic player. He has 2 month hot stretches followed by 2 months where he looks like he belongs in minors. His defense is average at best. I don’t think Cubs offer him a contract next year. Too much swing and miss.
His value is too low to trade and he’ll be too affordable next year to let go. He’ll be back. At least for the beginning…
He has to show something the last 2 months. They can easily replace him for similar money. .177 or whatever he is hitting not going to cut it.
Why wouldn’t a team that is going nowhere in 22’ offer him a deal? I would say 22’ but a the decider for him.
Amaya is injured. Agree on Davis.
Contreras isn’t going anywhere unless you can find good catcher to replace him. Amaya has been hurt and hitting .215 at AA. He isn’t ready, and have my doubts he will ever be as good as Contreras.
I would not be surprised if the FO hammers out an extension this offseason with Contreras. Maybe offer him something like 5/90 which is slightly lower than Salvador Perez extension AAV but Perez is a slightly better overall catcher than Contreras.
I am not super high on Amaya and their other high ceiling catching prospects are around 3 years away at least.
Amaya doesn’t appear close to being an everyday catcher, probably years away. The cubs number 1 priority should be extending Contreras.
Extending Contreras, I totally agree. He says he wants to stay – make it happen. Amaya likely will still be a few years away. If you don’t count JHey contract, Cubs are committed to only around $30M next season. Ricketts has to throw at least another $100M to next years payroll. Next year they need to sign at least 4 building blocks.
I agree with everything except trading Willie. I hope the Cubs decide to build around him instead of moving him. But if you’re going to trade him, do it this offseason. Don’t wait too long and lose some of his value. Yes, they have Amaya waiting in the wings, but he’s just a prospect. Or should I say “suspect” until proven otherwise.
22 million in 2022 and 2023 looks ugly for Heyward.
Wonder if they try and do a salary dump this offseason. I dont know the suiters for him, that contract for his production level is awful.
I remember when he homered on the first pitch of his career against the Cubs. We all thought he was going to be Tatis level good but never panned out that way
No one is taking on that money unless the Cubs send prospects. Not a smart move for a rebuilding club. They only possibility would be a bad contract for bad contract exchange
Cubs have a $50-$60 million payroll this offseason which includes Heyward, there is no reason for a large market team with that payroll need to dump his salary and attach prospects. Cubs will suck it up and pay the remaining deal and keep their prospects.
I agree. I still think you would be better off to DFA him, eat the money, and replace his spot on the roster with low-cost player next year. Ortega or Deichmann. So it would cost another 500k – 1m, but he would be gone. He is deadweight on the roster.
He is pretty much useless to the Cubs now, but we all know they are going to keep him in 2022 and sell “veteran clubhouse leadership” BS and if Deichman and Davis push him out then he will hit the IL.
This is the same FO that would not take a minor hit with Daniel Descalso failed deal and kept trying to justify his roster spot and that was only $1.5 million and they are doing the same thing with Jake Arreita right now too.
You might be right, but just have a gut feeling that the FO would like to move on from Heyward and take the salary hit.
He’s a 20 million dollar 4th or 5th outfielder/defensive replacement. He has value but not as a starter. I’d imagine for 1-2 million dollars he would find a spot on almost every team.
Davron, your spot on about JHey. The Cubs could buy out his contract, and the money they’d save – would be enough to sign Ortega.
Heyward will definitely be a Cub in 22. If they feel they are ready to compete in 23, maybe they DFA him. That is highly unlikely.
He is a ham and Egger who should earn 4 or 5 million a year! Nice guy who has never lived up to his reputation with the bat! great Defense but no stick!
Maybe Tatis Sr.. junior was a just a junior at the time.
I like it when guys walk at a gaudy clip. It shows confidence and character.
I would imagine most, if not all, Cubs fans would be perfectly happy if Jason Heyward doesn’t appear in another game the rest of this season.
Thanks for taking him off the Cardinals’ hands. But I don’t think that summer worked out for either one of the teams. Between Heyward and Fowler, both sides could have used a crystal ball.
Cards have dodged 2 bullets in recent memory. The pujols & heyward deals. Can u imagine how bad they would be if they had both lol?
Add David Price and G Stanton to the bullet dodging
Cardinals are still paying Fowler this year. They were both awful contracts.
I do/would feel same if you had worded it since 2016
Y’all overstate how “bad” heyward has been. He was hugely overpaid but until this year he hasn’t been anywhere close to unstartable ala someone like Chris Davis or pujols pre trade. He would have had a starting job on plenty of teams even without that big contract over the last 5 years
If Heyward gets the rest of the season off, I am going to calculate how much he got paid per hit during 2021. If our Cubs are concerned about money, I could fill in for half that cost. I probably won’t be able to hit MLB pitching either. But what the hey. I can still catch fly balls.
Cubs need to place heyward on the naga…naga… not gonna work here anymore list. One of worst contracts all time. BuT hIs SpEeCh…
The first of many phantom DL stints for JHey over the remaining years on that deal lol
Heywards bat: never swung, dropped once.
Wow a singles hitter 26 years old at that
“Wow a singles hitter 26 years old at that’
Pretty sure plenty of people said the same thing about Max Muncy too. Deichmann has a 70 power rating but has not been able to unlock it, but maybe the Cubs coaching staff can help him realize that potential, if not no biggie.
Jason Heyworthless. Worst contract in history. It looked bad when he sighed it.
Since a mention of Heyward always reminds folks of wincingly bad contracts
Ellsbury–Yankees got 9.8 bWAR for slightly more than $150M
Chris Davis: Orioles (to date): negative bWAR for what will be $161M
Heyward:: 9.7 bWAR $110M to date, 2 years and $44 million left.
Albert: 12.7 bWAR for $240M
Cubs would be smart to add 6m to the 44m owed. Make it 50. DFA him.
Pay the contract over 10 years.
If some team is stupid enough to sign him, just subtract from 5m each year.
Good Bye – then something about a door.
No reason to spread that money out, Cubs payroll is super low this offseason, it is better to just suck it up and pay the $44 million over the next 2 years and get it over with.
@mike156- It’s cute how you just list how much Heyward is owed and NOT what he’ll collect in total (184 mil plus maybe signing bonus or incentives for speech, Lol). He got 23 mil AAV which I believe only Pujols topped. All of those contracts are real bad and I’d rank worst of them as- Davis, Ellsbury, Heyward and then Pujols.
Now look for the Tatis Jr. contract to be a huge waste cause the guy is made of glass. Strasburg will be huge waste. Hosmer is grossly overpaid. Prolly handful of others too
Are you over paid if you won a world series within the life of the contract someone else offered you?
Of course, it’s possible. One guy doesn’t win a championship, especially in baseball. So yes, you can be overpaid even if you win a title. Some teams win DESPITE a player.
Did you notice the “$110M paid”? Wasn’t intending to be cute
@mike156- Your still 30 million short. He gets 20 million signing bonus in deferred payments from 2024-2027. Even after that you’re still 10 mil short. 110+44 does not equal 184. Simple math brother!
I got to see him play at LSU, and Cubs fans will love his overall game. Above average COF/1B, excellent plate discipline, above average on the bases even for his size. The power is there, and will play well in the power alleys in Wrigley. Gets into trouble with the Ks when he tries to “power up”, his comp imvho, is very much Joey Votto. He needs to work on taking the ball to left center more against LHP, maybe moving up on the plate more to see more pitches away to go that way? Cubs fans should be happy with what they get from him. He can’t be worse than Heyward.
Hope you are right for the good fans at Wrigly!
Thank Gawd!
Also need to get Jake out of the rotation and let the kids pitch and play the field for the rest of the season!
Justin Steele is likely going to take over next time around while Jake heals from his tender hamstring again **Wink”
You signed a guy like Heyward and over paid for him bc of the old school GM thought process.. best free agent on the market at the time, we must over pay for him. Bottom line is that you paid big to win a world series with him. He did just that even if it wasn’t based on his own performance. There should be zero complaints.
That is a great point, I will give you credit. I would like to really know the inner workings of MLB front offices and see their models.
Just curious how many “big” contracts have resulted in a championship. Don’t think they were dishing out 7-10 year deals in the 70’s, which gives you more time to succeed. Of course if Heyward keeps playing at this pace and the Cubs were to win now, can’t give him to much credit. I don’t think anyone expects performance on the back end of the contract. I’m sure Arte signed Pujols knowing he was going to stink when he finally hit 50, but was crossing g those fingers in the early years. Of course Arte only wants the money and not a championship! Come on Art bring us a proven starter already..
Andy Messersmith was supposed to lead the Angels to the WS in 1977(?)when he left the Dodgers for the big bucks, but had thrown so many innings with LA, he was a rag arm. Maybe when Steinbrenner signed Reggie, but even those weren’t 7-10 year deals. Unless we count the Cubs “blank check” deal with Dawson, which ended up being a few years, I don’t really remember (not a surprise though LOL) deals of even 4+ years until maybe the mid 90s? @Fent @Cey Hey@bobtillman, @anybody over 45 can remember?
If it’s true that Heywood, during the rain delay in the clubhouse, gave a speech that roused that somber team into champions, he was worth every cent of his contract. He was paid to help the Cubs win, and he delivered.
Back in the day Chipper Jones was asked who the better player would be Heyward or Freeman and without a pause he said Freeman. Heyward’s swing has always been too long and loopy. Once the league figured him out it’s been a rough road for the guy. Glad he turned that extension down.
The fun part of any rebuild is giving different players a chance to see who performs. Sometimes you even find guys that can do a few things really well and thus be complementary pieces to your next contender, One thing the White Sox did poorly with their rebuild was they didn’t give more fringe prospects a chance, and they also didn’t give more key prospects like Zack Collins any seasoning before expecting them to contribute at the MLB level. It was pretty lame honestly, and also stupid now that you’re having to compete.
Also, I never understood what Heyward had done to deserve that contract.
Oh no Kris Bryant they aren’t manipulating his service time.