Cubs' Heyward: Critics entitled to their opinions

Gold Glove outfielder Jason Heyward said he isn't bothered by Cardinals fans and former teammates who criticized his reasoning for leaving veteran-laded St. Louis to join the upstart Chicago Cubs this offseason.

"Everybody has their opinions and they've got a right to make them," Heyward told the Chicago Sun-Times this weekend. "At the end of the day, nobody had a decision other than me. At the end of the day it's my decision, and that’s the bottom line."

Heyward, who signed an eight-year, $184-million deal with the Cubs, reportedly turned down more total money from his former employer, citing Chicago's up-and-coming roster versus the Cardinals' aging core as one of the reasons that factored into his decision.

"I don't think it's going to ring too well with our club," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "If that (core group comparison) is a big deal to him, he's just being honest with people."

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright also seemed to question Heyward's motives for leaving the NL Central champions, saying, "There's nothing wrong with (his rationale). But we're looking for that guy who wants to be the man."

Heyward downplayed the war of words Sunday, insisting his former teammates are like brothers, and that even the Cardinals fans who aggressively lashed out at him on Twitter had a reason to be upset.

"Fans are fans, and that’s part of it for them," he said. "That’s all they can do is react to things that happen with the players or with teams and things like that. We kind of hold them hostage when it comes to winning a ballgame or losing a ballgame. They're going to be happy one way and they're going to be sad the other."