Impending free agent Heyward lauds 'ideal' fit with Cards

Jason Heyward's first (and possibly, only) season with the St. Louis Cardinals ended Tuesday, when his club was ousted from the postseason with a 6-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Still, the impending free agent suggested after his team's defeat at Wrigley Field that he could very well end up back in St. Louis next summer, and perhaps beyond.

"This is definitely an ideal situation," Heyward told MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch.

Heyward, 26, enjoyed a fine season with the Cardinals after being traded to the club in November following a five-year stint with the Atlanta Braves. Despite scuffling early in 2015, Heyward hit .317/.396/.476 from June 17 onward, finishing the campaign with a solid .797 OPS (117 OPS+), 50 extra-base hits, and a career-high 23 stolen bases in 154 games.

Since the beginning of 2012, Heyward has compiled more wins above replacement (21.1) than every outfielder in the majors except Mike Trout and Andrew McCutchen, managing a 114 OPS+ over that span while trailing only Andrelton Simmons for the MLB lead in defensive runs saved.

If the Cardinals hope to retain Heyward, he likely won't come cheap. Heyward's production throughout his career compares favorably to the seven outfielders who received contracts of at least five years in free agency since the end of 2009, but the former first-round pick is poised to hit the open market at a younger age than any of those players.