MLBTR Predicts Jason Heyward Will Be A Yankee

You're going to see somewhere around a million free agent lists and predictions, and Tim Dierkes, the creator and owner of MLB Trade Rumors, released his annual list last night.

Along with predicting that David Price would sign seven year, $217 million, deal with the Chicago Cubs, Tim believes Jason Heyward will sign a 10 year, $200 million, contract with the Yankees.

Here's his write-up about Heyward...

Since his 2010 rookie season, Heyward has quietly been one of the game’s best outfielders. He’s an excellent defender and baserunner with a solid on-base percentage and some pop. Heyward hit a career-high 27 home runs in 2012, but only 38 in the three seasons since. He doesn’t have the typical power output of a $200MM player, but his all-around game makes him a sabermetric darling with six wins above replacement this year. A very long term and an opt-out clause are on the table for Heyward because he broke into the Majors at age 20, and is now just 26. The Cardinals will try to convince Heyward to stay, but teams like the Angels, Yankees, White Sox, and Astros could make a play. For more on Heyward, click here.

When I first read that Dierkes thought Heyward would be a Yankee I was excited, as I'd love to see him in pinstripes, but I was more interested in how it would happen.

Does he think the Yankees will trade away Brett Gardner? Does he believe Beltran will become the 4th outfielder, along with seeing time as the team's designated hitter? Would Joe Girardi somehow rotate Heyward, Gardner, Beltran, and Ellsbury? 

Unfortunately, as you can see, Tim didn't answer any of those questions. So while I take what Tim says with more than a grain of salt, for the time being, I can't take his prediction seriously.

*Edit: Tim replied to me on Twitter, and told me he thinks the Yankees would trade Gardner or Beltran to open a spot for Heyward.