Braves not confident they'll sign Heyward to extension
Jason Heyward may not be patrolling the outfield for the Atlanta Braves past the 2015 season.
Braves president of baseball operations John Hart didn't appear optimistic Tuesday that the club will be able to ink the star right fielder to an extension before he hits free agency.
"My assumption is it's probably the wrong time," Hart said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien.
#Braves Hart added that wouldn't mean they couldn't sign him a year from now as free agent, just doesn't think an extension will happen now.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienAJC) November 11, 2014
O'Brien added that the Braves, who have made the playoffs in three of Heyward's five big-league seasons, wouldn't necessarily look to trade him despite the fact he would hit the open market in his prime, likely drawing plenty of interested suitors.
If the two sides are unable to work out an extension and the Braves choose to hold on to Heyward for 2015, the club would likely extend him a qualifying offer to ensure it receives draft-pick compensation if he signs elsewhere.
The 25-year-old Heyward, who won his second career Gold Glove last week, will earn $8.3 million in 2015 before he becomes a free agent and likely cashes in on what will be a lucrative multi-year deal.
Heyward, a 2007 first-round pick, hit .271/.351/.384 with 20 stolen bases and posted a 5.1 WAR this past season, according to FanGraphs. Despite an inconsistent offensive career, Heyward has morphed into one of the game's best defensive outfielders. His 32 defensive runs saved in 2014 was the top mark in all of baseball.