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Dexter Fowler reaches agreement with St. Louis Cardinals
Dexter Fowler is switching teams in the National League Central.
A little more than month after leading the Cubs to their first World Series title in 108 years, the free-agent center fielder agreed to a deal with the rival Cardinals on Thursday.
The Cardinals' primary goal entering the offseason was to become more athletic and better defensively.
Fowler's arrival likely means Randal Grichuk will move to left field and leadoff hitter Matt Carpenter will become the Cardinals' No. 3 hitter.
It came as no surprise Fowler turned down his mutual option with Chicago; he was seen as grossly underpaid for his performance in the team's World Series triumph. Fowler made $13 million in 2016, returning to the Cubs for one year only after exploring the free-agent market last winter and finding it unsatisfactory. After producing an on-base percentage of .393 in 2016 and hitting 13 home runs -- in addition to a World Series Game 7 blast -- Fowler was due a big payday.
He also was credited with playing better defense in 2016, after he and the team agreed he should play deeper. The result was a plus-1 in defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs. In 2015, Fowler was minus-12.
But Fowler's biggest contributions came at the top of the order, where Cubs manager Joe Maddon used to say to him, "You go, we go." Fowler's first-inning on-base percentage in 2016 was .479. He was truly the ignition to the Cubs' offense throughout his two years with the team.
The Fowler move comes after the Cubs signed Jason Heyward and John Lackey away from the Cardinals last offseason.
Fowler will be the first free agent to sign with the Cardinals after ending the previous season with the Cubs since Mark Grudzielanek did it in the 2004-05 offseason.
The Cardinals and Cubs open the 2017 season on April 2 in St. Louis.
A little more than month after leading the Cubs to their first World Series title in 108 years, the free-agent center fielder agreed to a deal with the rival Cardinals on Thursday.
The Cardinals' primary goal entering the offseason was to become more athletic and better defensively.
Fowler's arrival likely means Randal Grichuk will move to left field and leadoff hitter Matt Carpenter will become the Cardinals' No. 3 hitter.
It came as no surprise Fowler turned down his mutual option with Chicago; he was seen as grossly underpaid for his performance in the team's World Series triumph. Fowler made $13 million in 2016, returning to the Cubs for one year only after exploring the free-agent market last winter and finding it unsatisfactory. After producing an on-base percentage of .393 in 2016 and hitting 13 home runs -- in addition to a World Series Game 7 blast -- Fowler was due a big payday.
He also was credited with playing better defense in 2016, after he and the team agreed he should play deeper. The result was a plus-1 in defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs. In 2015, Fowler was minus-12.
But Fowler's biggest contributions came at the top of the order, where Cubs manager Joe Maddon used to say to him, "You go, we go." Fowler's first-inning on-base percentage in 2016 was .479. He was truly the ignition to the Cubs' offense throughout his two years with the team.
The Fowler move comes after the Cubs signed Jason Heyward and John Lackey away from the Cardinals last offseason.
Fowler will be the first free agent to sign with the Cardinals after ending the previous season with the Cubs since Mark Grudzielanek did it in the 2004-05 offseason.
The Cardinals and Cubs open the 2017 season on April 2 in St. Louis.