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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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Jason Heyward has never needed to be the most productive player on the field to lead a team to a World Series championship. His inspirational speech during the rain delay in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series helped motivate the Chicago Cubs to win their first World Series in 108 years.
Heyward's good vibes weren't enough to keep his job in the Los Angeles Dodgers' outfield beyond last Thursday, when he was designated for assignment amid a roster crunch.
One day after officially becoming a free agent, Heyward is reportedly nearing a deal with the Houston Astros. Brian McTaggart of MLB.com was the first to report the two sides were close on Tuesday:
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Heyward, 35, hasn't won a ring since his moment of glory with the 2016 Cubs passed. Now, the Astros are hoping Heyward's gold-glove defense and inspirational leadership are enough to push them to their eighth consecutive American League Championship Series appearance.
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Heyward has hit .257 with 180 home runs and 709 RBIs over parts of 15 major league seasons with the Atlanta Braves (2010-14), St. Louis Cardinals (2015), Cubs (2016-22), and Dodgers (2023-24).
Although Heyward's career began with high expectations after homering in his first MLB at-bat, he minted his place in the league thanks to his glove. Heyward has won four Gold Glove awards in his career for his work in right field.
Unfortunately, he became redundant at the position in Los Angeles, where the Dodgers recently moved former MVP Mookie Betts back to right field.
When the Dodgers activated utility player Chris Taylor from the injured list Thursday, Heyward was designated for assignment.
Heyward was limited to 60 games this season with the Dodgers and slashed a subpar .208/.289/.393 when healthy.
The Astros have struggled to fill the vacant spot in right field left by former All-Star Kyle Tucker, who's missed nearly three months with a shin injury. Monday, the Houston Chronicle reported that Tucker has progressed to taking on-field batting practice and doing light defensive work on the field.
There is no exact timetable for Tucker's return.
It's presumptuous to assume any storylines will come to pass, but the Dodgers-Astros rivalry is a bitter one.
Houston beat Los Angeles in seven games to win the 2017 World Series. Afterward, it was revealed the Astros stole signs from their opponents that year; Dodger fans have yet to move on from the so-called "Banging Scheme" even as most of their players have.
Last week, the Dodgers were sad to see Heyward go.
"What Jason did for the Dodgers in a year and a half was pretty remarkable on the field, in the clubhouse, in the community," manager Dave Roberts said Friday. "His fingerprint will be everlasting."
If the Dodgers and Astros meet again in the World Series, the importance of Heyward switching sides in the middle of the postseason hunt will make for a tantalizingly awkward narrative.
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