By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today | @cbrown_STLBBT | Nov. 13, 2015, 10:02 pm CT
Jason Heyward and John Lackey are ready to test the open market, as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch was first to report that both have rejected the Cardinals’ one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offers, officially making the pair free agents.
One of the key questions of the Cardinals’ offseason has been and will continue to be whether the club will be able to resign Heyward, who ranks as one of the top position players available on the free agent market. Acquired from the Braves in a trade last offseason, the 26-year-old hit .293/.359/.439 with 13 home runs and 60 RBIs in 154 games while winning his third Gold Glove Award for his excellent play in right field.
While GM John Mozeliak described Heyward as a “tremendous fit” with the redbirds, it remains to be seen whether the club would be willing to make an offer substantial enough to bring back the dynamic outfielder, who’s been projected by many to receive a long-term contract worth upwards of $150 million.
The seemingly ageless veteran Lackey had another impressive campaign while pitching for the league-minimum in 2015. The 37-year-old led the Cardinals with his 218 innings of work, compiling a 13-10 record with a 2.77 ERA — the lowest mark of his career — in 33 starts.
With the recent news the Lance Lynn will miss the entire 2016 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, the redbirds could look to bring back Lackey on a two- or three-year deal, though the club is certainly exploring many other rotation options as well.
Since they extended the qualifying offers, the Cardinals would receive draft-pick compensation if either Heyward or Lackey signs with another team.
More from STL Baseball Today:
Report: Cardinals plan to non-tender reliever Steve Cishek
Cardinals sign catcher Fryer, righty Gonzalez to minor league deals
Report: Cardinals among teams interested in free agent INF/OF Ben Zobrist
Video: GM John Mozeliak discusses Lance Lynn’s injury, missing 2016 season
Follow @STLBBToday on Twitter
Feature image used under Creative Commons by Arturo Pardavila III. No changes made. Image license.
Lackey image used under Creative Common by Arturo Pardavila III. No changes made. Image license.
