Cubs' Jason Heyward happy discontented Cardinals will miss him
By Mark Gonzales
Manager Mike Matheny and starter Adam Wainwright surprised news Cubs center fielder Jason Heyward decided to leave the Cardinals.
If the rival Cardinals remain bitter after Jason Heyward's departure, they should heed the words that Rams fans heard this week from the NFL that "it's just business."
Before participating in the opening ceremony at his first Cubs Convention before an overflow crowd Friday night at the Sheraton Grand Chicago, Heyward didn't dwell deeply on sharp comments from Cardinals manager Mike Matheny and pitching ace Adam Wainwright. Those came last month after he said he chose to sign an eight-year, $184 million contract with the Cubs because of their youth and chance to attain greater success for multiple years.
"I didn't expect them to say anything, one way or the other," Heyward said. "When it comes to leaving a team, if they're happy to see me leave, that means I didn't do my job right.
"I'm just happy that somebody is going to miss me when I'm gone. I didn't get the same vibe when I left Atlanta the first time — not from necessarily the players and coaches. They were not happy to see me go.
"But I feel like I did my job right on a team that won 100 games, and now it's time for me to choose for the first time in my life where I'm going to be, and I had to make the best decision for me.''
While Heyward's decision last month heightened excitement and expectations for Cubs fans, Matheny and Wainwright expressed their disappointment even though Heyward, 26, spent only one season with the Cardinals after his trade from the Braves.
"I don't blame him, but I don't like it," Matheny told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last month. "I thought we created a really good atmosphere."
Wainwright told radio show host Bernie Miklasz that Heyward was a great teammate but wondered why he would take less money to leave.
"He didn't want to play there after myself, and Yadier (Molina) and Matt (Holliday) were gone, on such a long contract," Wainwright said. "It really comes down to a personality trait to me."
Heyward returns to Busch Stadium on April 18-20 and maintained the anticipated verbiage won't be worse than what he has heard in San Francisco and Philadelphia.
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And while the Cardinals may feel like jilted lovers, Cubs assistant hitting coach Eric Hinske and Anthony Rizzo have a longer association with their adaptable center fielder and believe he will help the Cubs' chances of winning a World Series because of his unselfishness.
"You won't hear him say anything bad," said Hinske, who served as a mentor during Heyward's first three seasons with the Braves (2010-12). "He's going to let his actions speak on the field, and that's what he always has done.
"They called him the next Hank Aaron when he showed up in Atlanta, and he was 21. This guy has been dealing with a lot of pressure, and he plays his game."
Rizzo said he has known Heyward since they played in high school tournaments and were drafted out of high school in 2007.
"For him to have offers for more money, he could have gone for top dollar," Rizzo said. "But everyone knows winning a World Series in this city is everything in baseball. Everyone wants to see it, whether you're a Red Sox fan or Yankee fan. Heck, even some Cardinals fans would admit just to see it. It's history. To do it here is a great attraction."
mgonzales@tribpub.com
Twitter @MDGonzales
Eric Hinske