Heyward hints Cardinals' window to win closing

Jason Heyward took less money to be part of a youthful Chicago Cubs team for up to the next eight years, and he says age was the deciding factor in his decision not to return to the St. Louis Cardinals.

"St. Louis is always going to be a great organization and I don't think anyone would ever be surprised if they win a World Series any year," Heyward said Tuesday after finalizing an eight-year, $184-million contract with the Cubs. "I know I keep hitting on this but being 26 years old and knowing that my contract would probably put me in any clubhouse for longer than most people there, you have to look at age, how fast the team is changing and how soon those changes may come about."

Heyward, who spent just one season in St. Louis, specifically named those he thought would be leaving the Cardinals, or retiring soon: Yadier Molina, Matt Holliday, and Adam Wainwright, among others. St. Louis reportedly offered Heyward a $200-million deal to stay, but the Cubs' youthful exuberance ultimately trumped the extra cash.

"You have Yadi who is going to be done in two years, maybe. You have Matt Holliday who’s probably going to be done soon. Jon Jay and Tony Cruz (are) gone. Wainwright is going to be done in 3-4 years ... If I were to look up in three years and saw a completely different team that would be kind of different for me."

Related: Heyward ready to make history with Cubs

"Knowing the core is young and those guys are going to be around for a while is very exciting," Heyward noted.

Another selling point working in the Cubs' favor is their charismatic manager. When asked to cite the most impressive aspect of Chicago's magical 2015 season, Heyward replied: "How Joe Maddon managed a young team."

The love is being reciprocated by Maddon, who says Heyward reminds him of eight-time Gold Glover Jim Edmonds. Like Edmonds, Maddon believes Heyward has the ability to excel in center field moving forward because of his high baseball IQ.

"I never take a pitch off. ... There are 27 outs. I'm not asleep for any of those," Heyward said about his defensive approach.

Heyward has also enjoyed significant offensive success at Wrigley Field, hitting .311/.376/.522 with four homers and 13 RBIs in 25 career games at the iconic ballpark.

"I believe he's (Heyward) one of the top five players in the National League," Maddon concluded.