Los Angeles Dodgers Make Decision On Jason Heyward

13-year major league veteran Jason Heyward wasn't ready to hang 'em up just yet. The Chicago Cubs decided to let him go after the 2022 season, following seven years in Wrigley, most of them featuring extreme struggles at the plate. 

But he can still play a little defense and be a good clubhouse presence, which is the reason that the Los Angeles Dodgers signed him to a minor league contract, and have now confirmed that he will be on the roster for Opening Day.

Jason Heyward makes Dodgers' Opening Day roster https://t.co/lr9GFIvBEK

— NBC Sports EDGE Baseball (@NBCSEdgeBB) March 23, 2023

Heyward hasn't been able to hit major league pitching for years now, and that continued in spring training. He mustered up a .200 average with only a .280 on-base, and a very light .378 slugging pct. over 51 plate appearances. Pretty much the same mediocre numbers as he's struggled to in the previous two seasons on the North Side. 

The 33-year-old will likely be nothing more than a fifth outfielder for the Dodgers, while offering a good soldier and a leader in the clubhouse.

But according to former MLB general manager Jim Bowden, "clearly they're trying to stay under the luxury tax. I think that (Dodgers president of baseball ops) Andrew Friedman is going to have to go out and get an outfielder. I think he's going to have to trade some depth and get an outfielder if they hope to make the playoffs as a Wild Card team."

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