Cardinals make qualifying offers to free agents Heyward, Lackey

By foxsports
Published

ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals have made $15.8 million qualifying offers to right fielder Jason Heyward and pitcher John Lackey, free agents who were instrumental on the NL Central title team.

St. Louis is likely to attempt to sign the 26-year-old Heyward to a multiyear deal. He hit .293 with 13 homers and 60 RBI this past season, and he is an NL Gold Glove finalist.

The 37-year-old Lackey came the ace after Adam Wainwright was sidelined with a torn left Achilles and went 13-10 with a career-best 2.77 ERA. He started in Games 1 and 4 of the NL Division Series against the Chicago Cubs.

Players have until Nov. 13 to accept the offers. If each signs elsewhere, St. Louis would receive an extra pick after the first round of June's amateur draft.