Interesting that Chris Davis apparently has 7-year offer ($150) from O's.
Heyward wants 10 years but is 3 1/2 years younger than Davis. Seems like Heyward might age better than Davis.
Should Cubs go 10 years for Heyward?
In terms of long-term planning, isn't it true that the only really large commitments to current players are to Zobrist through 2019 and to Lester through 2020 (with a team option for 2021) then the commitments to them will disappear. Arrieta will need an extension within the next couple of years, but Hammel will go off the books after next year ($10 million with $2 million buyout for 2017).
Meanwhile, Rizzo is signed for a very team friendly amount (with team option) through 2021, and Soler through 2020. Am I correct that Baez is under control until 2021, Bryant, Russell and Schwarber until 2022? So the youngsters are not going to become big ticket items until after Hammel, Zobrist and Lester are no longer being paid. It seems like this might render a long-term, very large Heyward deal practical, especially considering the revenues should increase dramatically with whatever media deals are reached by 2020.