That should have been the first in a long line of highlights showcasing similar epic moments in the kid's Braves tenure. That home run was a signal, that this kid was ready to take Major League Baseball by storm and, simultaneously, restore a franchise that was only 5 years removed from a dynastic reputation. But sadly, it was not to be. The following seasons would be filled with a mix of disappointment, frustration, and confusion for the kid, his team, and the fans in Atlanta. And now, here we are. The Atlanta Braves have traded right fielder Jason Heyward (and reliever Jordan Walden) to the St. Louis Cardinals for starter Shelby Miller and pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins.
I really liked J-Hey during his time in Atlanta. I knew several people who claimed he was their favorite player after Chipper Jones retired. He was a Brave through and through, being drafted and developed by the franchise he grew up rooting for in McDonough, Georgia. He was an All-Star in that rookie season, an honor he hasn't earned since. If not for another native Georgian, Giants catcher Buster Posey, Heyward might have won the Rookie of the Year award. He's absolutely brilliant in the field, never posting fewer than 15 Defensive Runs Saved and always grading out in the double digits where UZR is concerned. His bat has always been tantalizing, but for a myriad of reasons (injuries being the main one, which I'll touch on shortly), he never became the offensive monster we were all expecting. He hasn't hit for much contact since coming up to the bigs, as his .277 average in 2010 still represents a career high. He managed to knock 18 baseballs out of the park that year, and hit 27 in 2012, but has never hit more than 14 in any other season. While his walk rate is spectacular, it took him more than 3 seasons just to get his strikeout percentage down to league average. He's not a free swinger, but he takes a fair share of unnecessary hacks. He's still just 25, though, and it would be foolish to write his hitting abilities off just yet.
However, like so many countless players before (and, presumably, after) him, Heyward simply hasn't been able to stay healthy enough to play a full campaign. In 2 of his 5 seasons, 2011 and 2013, he played less than 130 games. Yes, he's been able to appear in triple-digit games since coming up, but an oft-injured corner outfielder whose defense is more notable than his offense needs to stay on the field to provide maximum value. When he is seemingly well, his minor struggles at the plate become more difficult to explain. Admittedly, he hasn't had any trouble giving the Braves a sizable amount of value: he has yet to post a WAR lower than 2.5 in any given season (according to Baseball-Reference, at least; Fangraphs has that same season at 2.0), and past players comparable to him through age 24 include Carl Yazstremski and some guy named Barry Bonds. There are worst people to be compared to.
While it hurts to lose Heyward, it's vitally important to keep in mind the reason why he's gone. It has nothing to do with his talent, nor his aggravating inability to put it all together at once. Remember last year, when there was a flurry of extensions coming out of the Ted? Freddie Freeman got one, Andrelton Simmons got one, Craig Kimbrel got one, Julio Teheran got one...all to ensure these star players would still be on the team when SunTrust Park opens in Cobb County come 2017. Suspiciously absent from the contract party was Heyward, which was strange considering his free agency was looming much larger (and much sooner) than any of the newly-extended others. Barring an extension from the Cardinals, he'll hit the market at age 26 next offseason, and will likely get a deal for over $150 million if he has a good platform year. He simply priced himself out of Atlanta's budget.
But this isn't a post about Jason Heyward. It may seem like it, since I just spent 5 paragraphs on him, but it's not. This is about the team he's leaving behind. It's clear that the Braves, after an embarrassing first-round exit from the 2013 playoffs and a losing record last season, are fully in rebuild mode. I know the dreaded R-word is scary to read, but this isn't shaping up to be an offseason where the Braves expect to simply retool. Acting GM John Hart isn't reloading for 2015, he's clearly shooting for 2017 and that new ballpark. The team already shipped off incumbent second baseman Tommy La Stella to that same Chicago team mentioned in this post's opening sentence, receiving starter and former Braves farmhand Arodys Vizcaino (as well as the Cubs' 2nd, 3rd, and 4th international bonus slots, after sacrificing their 4th slot in the same deal), and rumors surrounding catcher/left fielder Evan Gattis as well as outfielder Justin Upton would lead one to believe that they aren't done making trades with the future in mind. While either slugger would garner a huge return, the question is whether or not to keep (and potentially extend) them instead. Those two kept the Bravos' offense afloat last year, combing for 51 homers (on a team that hit only 123 long balls) and knocked 154 runs in (out of the 545 RBI all Braves hitters recorded). Losing one or both of those guys would leave a giant hole in the lineup that would be nigh impossible to fill, especially in this era of decreased scoring. Freeman went through a bit of a slump, failing to hit at least 20 homers for the first time in his career and experiencing a 31-point drop in batting average from the year prior (.319 in 2013, .288 this year). Simmons and Chris Johnson were both average at the plate, although Andrelton can at least hang his hat on his mindblowing defensive prowess. And BJ? We won't talk about BJ. You know how bad BJ has been the last 2 years, I don't need to remind you. At least the team finally cut Dan Uggla, a move that came 2 years too late. Simply put, if the Braves are indeed going to trade El Oso Blanco, J-Up or both, they must get position players with power in return. This is a lineup in flux and, sticking with the idea that 2017 is the goal, it's got a long way to go before it intimidates opposing teams again.
The pitching, unlike the hitting, was predictably terrific, thanks in part to Teheran, Alex Wood (who once again split time between the rotation and the bullpen), and respectable seasons from Ervin Santana and Aaron Harang (you'll notice I left Mike Minor, his 4.77 ERA, and his 4.39 FIP off this congratulatory list). Santana will likely walk in free agency, but the team will receive a compensatory draft pick if he does, and Harang is simply another over-the-hill pitcher who enjoyed a resurgence in Atlanta. Any number of available free agent starters could fit the same description next year (Edinson Volquez, for instance, immediately comes to mind). The rotation was fantastic, and the bullpen was dominant once again. Losing Walden in this trade also stings, since his jumpy delivery was deceiving enough to lead him to a 2.88 ERA in 50 relief innings, but any one of Chasen Shreve, David Carpenter, or David Hale could step in and bridge the gap between a starter and Kimbrel. Adding Miller, who is only 24 and has 4 years of team control remaining, should also be a significant boon. A rotation boasting Teheran/Wood/Miller in the first 3 slots may never be mistaken for Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz, but I doubt anyone will complain about having them in control of the ball.
Jason Heyward (and Jordan Walden) will be missed here in the South. Their contributions to the team will not be forgotten. But the dawn of a new era is on the horizon, one in which the Braves are slowly but surely preparing to contend once again. After years of watching this team stand pat while several division rivals became competitive, it's refreshing to see Atlanta take a gamble on the future instead of foolishly expect better days to come instantly.
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