Cubs, Heyward Agree To Terms

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Jason Heyward on an 8-year, $184 million deal, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick and multiple reports.

Heyward's deal has two opt-outs: One is after three years and the second is after the fourth year, according to multiple reports.

The Cardinals and Nationals were also in the hunt for Heyward, who played with St. Louis this past season.

According to a Fox Sports report, the Nationals bid $200 million for Heyward, and another team, believed to be the Cardinals, also offered $200 million, meaning Heyward took less money to play for the Cubs.

Arguably St. Louis' MVP last season, Heyward posted a WAR of 6.5, the most among Cardinals position players by a considerable margin. He also is one of the best in baseball in defensive runs saved and has won two Gold Glove awards.

Heyward finished his first season in St. Louis with 13 homers, 60 RBIs and a .293 average, helping the Cardinals to the NL Central title and the best record in baseball in 2015 at 100-62.

Heyward has stolen at least 20 bases in three of the past four seasons, including both of the past two. He's an efficient base stealer, swiping 43 of 50 since the start of 2014. The 86 percent success rate ranks eighth among those with at least 20 attempts in that span.

The Cubs plan to play Heyward in center field unless they move right fielder Jorge Soler in a deal. He'll bat near the top of the lineup as he and new addition Ben Zobrist give the Cubs an element on offense they were missing last season: contact. The Cubs led the majors in strikeouts but now possess a much more balanced lineup.

The 14th pick overall in the 2007 draft, Heyward finished second to Giants catcher Buster Posey in the rookie of the year voting in 2010, when he made his lone All-Star appearance.

Phillies, Astros Finalize Deal

The Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros have finalized their deal involving closer Ken Giles, but with a twist.

The Astros get Giles, the hard-throwing bullpen piece they've been looking for, but the Phillies receive former No. 1 draft pick Mark Appel in the deal. The right-hander had not previously been reported as being in the deal.

In addition, the Phillies receive pitchers Vincent Velasquez, Thomas Eshelman, Harold Arauz and Brett Oberholtzer. The Phillies are sending, along with Giles, young shortstop Jonathan Arauz (not related to Harold).

The 24-year-old Appel was the top pick in the 2013 draft by the Astros. He is 16-11 with a 5.12 ERA in two minor league seasons.

Two of the past three No. 1 picks in the amateur draft have been traded this week. The Diamondbacks traded last year's No. 1, Dansby Swanson, to the Braves in the Shelby Miller deal.

The Astros, who had the lowest average fastball velocity of any bullpen in the majors last season at 91.1 mph, have been talking to a number of teams in an attempt to add a power arm to the back of their bullpen.

Giles' average fastball velocity of 96.5 mph was the 11th-highest among big league relievers who pitched at least 50 innings last season. He threw 193 fastballs at 98 mph or higher; Astros relievers as a group threw eight.