Jonah Heim

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Despite the All-Star pedigree and the feel-good narrative surrounding his arrival in Oakland, Jonah Heim's current deal earns an F Contract Value Index (CVI) — and the reasoning is blunt: his 2026 production simply hasn't justified a roster spot at any price, let alone one that made the Braves comfortable enough to designate him for assignment in the first place. Without credible counting stats to point to this season, there's no statistical foundation to support the idea that the version of Heim currently showing up behind the plate resembles the one who won a Gold Glove and earned All-MLB Second Team honors back in 2023. At $1.25M AAV on a one-year deal, the dollar figure itself is negligible — this is the kind of contract that barely registers on a major league payroll — but CVI isn't just about absolute dollars, it's about whether the production justifies the roster spot, and right now it doesn't. At 30 years old and in his sixth year of professional service, Heim is not a developmental piece with upside to project forward; he's a veteran who either rediscovers his form or confirms that the Braves' loss of faith was well-placed. The cash-only acquisition and the one-year structure tell you everything about organizational confidence here — the Athletics aren't betting the farm, they're taking a flyer, and the recent pattern of adding veteran pieces on minimal commitments suggests this is a low-risk depth move rather than a cornerstone decision. If Heim can reconnect with the defensive craftsman the league recognized three years ago, the CVI picture could shift dramatically given how cheap the contract is — but until there's on-field evidence of a rebound, the grade reflects the reality of what he's produced, not the reputation he arrived with.

Performance Analysis