Cubs claim Field off waivers from Twins
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CHICAGO -- The Cubs added some outfield depth Thursday when they claimed Johnny Field off waivers from the Twins. With the move, the Cubs' 40-man roster is now at 36.
Field, 26, made his Major League debut this past season and appeared in 83 games with the Rays and Twins, batting .222 with 13 doubles, nine home runs and 21 RBIs. He played 34 games in left field, 32 games in right and 15 in center. A right-handed batter, Field also played in 25 games at the Triple-A level, batting .258 with a .340 on-base percentage.
Field was the Rays' fifth-round pick in the 2013 Draft out of the University of Arizona and has compiled a .270 average over six Minor League seasons.
Jason Heyward let the deadline pass for exercising the opt-out provision in his contract. In December 2015, the Cubs signed Heyward to an eight-year, $184 million deal which included provisions for him to opt out after the '18 season, and also after '19 if he totals 550 plate appearances next year. The deal will pay him $106 million over the next five seasons.
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According to The Associated Press, Heyward had until Wednesday to make his decision regarding the opt-out provision.
Heyward, 29, posted his highest batting average since joining the Cubs this past season, hitting .270 with eight home runs and 57 RBIs. He missed time in May because of a concussion and was sidelined in early September with right hamstring tightness.