Baseball notes: Cubs, Jason Heyward reportedly agree – NorthJersey.com

The Chicago Cubs already boasted one of the best young cores in baseball — and that was before they added one of the top outfielders.

Free agent Jason Heyward agreed to a $184 million, eight-year contract with the Cubs, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

The person spoke Friday on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced.

The agreement with the three-time Gold Glove winner is the latest in a series of big moves by Chicago as it tries to build on a breakthrough season and bring home its first World Series title since 1908. The Cubs won 97 games and reached the NL Championship Series before getting swept by the Mets.

Chicago also has added pitchers John Lackey and Adam Warren, along with infielder Ben Zobrist. Lackey, like Heyward, left the rival Cardinals for the Cubs and figures to be Chicago’s No. 3 starter behind NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester.

An All-Star in 2010, the 26-year-old Heyward hit .293 with 13 homers and 60 RBI this past season, helping St. Louis win the NL Central. He spent his first five big league seasons with Atlanta.

Heyward has a .268 career batting average and has hit more than 18 home runs just once.

But the Cubs are counting on him to help strengthen a batting order that includes young sluggers Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber along with Addison Russell. All are 26 or younger, with Rizzo a two-time All-Star and Bryant a unanimous pick for NL Rookie of the Year.

Chicago also is counting on Heyward to help solidify its outfield, whether it keeps him in right field or move him to center. If Heyward plays right, they could try to trade Jorge Soler for a pitcher or center fielder.

The addition of Heyward will only further fuel expectations after the Cubs finished with both the third-best record in the majors and in their division. Even though they took two players from the Cardinals, beating St. Louis and Pittsburgh in the Central won’t be easy.

A’S, NATIONALS FINALIZE DEALS: The Oakland Athletics have finalized their deals with relievers Ryan Madson and John Axford that were reached over the past week.

Madson has a $22 million, three-year contract while closer Axford received a $10 million, two-year deal.

Rebuilding their middle relief corps, the Washington Nationals finalized deals with right-hander and ex-Yankee Shawn Kelley on a $15 million, three-year contract and with left-hander and ex-Met Oliver Perez on a $7 million, two-year deal.

BARNEY AGREES WITH JAYS: Infielder Darwin Barney has agreed to a $1.05 million, one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 30-year-old hit .304 with two homers in 15 games for Toronto after being acquired from the Dodgers on Sept. 13.