Cubs: Yu Darvish back, Jason Heyward on the trade block?

With Yu Darvish choosing not to opt-out this offseason, will the Cubs turn their attention in trying to trade Jason Heyward to free up some salary?

Yu Darvish‘s tenure with the Chicago Cubs could not have gotten off to a worse start. After imploding in the World Series with the Dodgers, Darvish made just eight starts for the north siders a year ago before being shut down with elbow and tricep injuries. He attempted to make a comeback in the event that the team was going to make a postseason run but his season was done after having a setback in a rehab start with South Bend.

With a clean slate, Darvish didn’t have the best first half of 2019 but at least he was pitching every five days. That being said, he put together one of the most memorable second halves of the season that would make Jake Arrieta start to sweat. In 81.2 innings, Darvish spun a 2.76 ERA with 118 strikeouts and allowed opponents to bat just 0.199 off him. A closer review indicates that opponents were able to hit 0.225 off him in the first half but they, seemingly, made the hits count. It likely didn’t help that he allowed 49 free passes though.

Darvish is signed through the 2023 season but has the availability of opting out of his contract after every year starting this offseason. And to no surprise, he will return next year.

Two things. Darvish stated that he likes being here and no one else is going to give him that kind of money per year. He’s set to make $22 million in 2020 and can make an extra $1 million for finishing within the top five of Cy Young voting and $2 million if he wins it.

With the Cubs strapped for cash this offseason, it would appear that the only way they are going to be bringing in a big-name free agent is if they can clear some payroll. Their projected 2020 Opening Day team payroll is right at the league’s 2020 Luxury Tax threshold but might they look into moving someone like Jason Heyward? While no rumors have formally been announced, the Cubs should look at what kind of return they can get for Heyward, as he is entering the final year of a two-year partial no-trade clause before he can’t be moved until he hits free agency after the 2023 season.

Heyward is set to make $23.5 million next year and any kind of trade will likely result in the Cubs eating some of his salary. The return they would get for him is fairly unknown at this point and this move would be to purely free up some salary. Obviously, the lower the return, the more salary the second party might be willing to take on.

The 30-year-old will always be in Cub fans’ hearts for delivering his 2016 World Series Game 7 speech during a rain delay but has underwhelmed, to say the least, during his time in Chicago. This year, he slashed 0.251/0.343/0.429 with a 98 OPS+ but hit the most home runs since the 2012 season. He’s a perennial Gold Glove candidate but he needs to be more than just a defensive replacement, which is exactly what he’s been at times.

At the trade deadline, the Cubs finally sacrificed some defense to boost their offense in the acquisition of Nick Castellanos and he was the only one hitting consistently down the stretch, it seemed. Castellanos would be a great candidate to bring back but there’s no way they can do so if they don’t free up some payroll.

Cub fans should be prepared to see a fan favorite on the move this offseason in order to improve the roster long-term. Jason Heyward might be one of those guys.