SATURDAY: Fowler is now officially a free agent, per Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link).
FRIDAY: Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler will decline his half of a $9MM mutual option and re-enter the free-agent market, Fowler himself said on ESPN’s Sportscenter last night (via ESPN News Services). The news comes as little surprise on the heels of a career year for Fowler, who should be one of the top outfielders and top all-around free agents on this year’s open market.
“I’m definitely going to be a free agent, but hopefully it happens a little bit quicker than last year,” said the 30-year-old switch-hitting outfielder. “You can’t control what goes on, but I loved my time in Chicago and I’m definitely not counting them out, but we’ll see what God has planned for us now.”
Fowler, who will turn 31 next March, batted .276/.393/.447 with 13 homers and 13 steals in 125 games/551 plate appearances for the Cubs in the regular season before kicking in a trio of postseason home runs on during the Cubs’ curse-breaking World Series run. He’s a surefire candidate to receive a qualifying offer from Chicago, which would give him a one-year, $17.2MM offer to return to the team, but based on Fowler’s comments it seems safe to say he’ll be rejecting the QO to again test free agency.
That’s familiar territory for Fowler, who rejected a QO from the Cubs last winter and spent much of the offseason languishing on the free-agent market. While he reportedly came close to a three-year deal with the Orioles in February — many credible reporters indicated that the deal was agreed to, though Fowler’s agent vehemently denied that rumor after the fact — Fowler ultimately settled for a one-year deal to return to Chicago instead. That was a surprising development, considering Fowler entered the offseason seemingly poised to score a strong free-agent payday. Some teams weren’t willing to part with the draft pick required to sign him, however, and that could again prove true this winter. However, it also seems less likely, as Fowler is now coming off the two best seasons of his career and has seemingly erased some concerns about his defense in center field. Fowler recently told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that teams last winter weren’t convinced of his ability to play center field, but he altered his positioning this year and drew slightly above-average marks from both Ultimate Zone Rating and Defensive Runs Saved for the first time in his career.
Alternatively, if Fowler is open to playing an outfield corner, his market would almost certainly grow even more robust, as a number of contending clubs with money to spend (e.g. the Giants, Blue Jays, Dodgers and Rangers) could look to the free-agent market to find help in the outfield corners. It was genuinely surprising that a long-term deal did not materialize for Fowler earlier in the offseason last winter, but it’ll come as even more of a shock if he’s not able to lock down a lucrative multi-year commitment in the 2016-17 offseason. From my vantage point, Fowler should be able to land at least a four-year contract this winter even after rejecting the qualifying offer.
I don’t understand why he wouldn’t want to stay in Chicago. You just won a title!!!!
When he is a lock for the QO there is no reason for him to exercise the mutual option. As a Cubs fan i can respect that.
This is most likely his last chance at a big contract to set him and his family for life. He got his ring this year which is why he resigned with the Cubbies.
Wait, you mean 9 mil or 17mil wouldnt set him for life?
Not nearly as much as an extra $35-$40 million will.
Guys are after long term with the most money possible. $9 mil is something to us but if he can get $15 mil a year for 4-5 years i think we would all take that over 1 $9mil year. Its all about putting his family in the best situation
Also, on a $9M salary he’ll actually clear only about $4 or $4.5M.
Braves 2015, Is this a real question? You’re going to ask a man to leave millions on dollars on the table just because. That’s like becoming a doctor and requesting minimum wage just because your happy to get a job. Stop with this juvenile nonsense. The money is there and he earned his right to to the pot. Be at the top of your profession and settle for less, please.
Not if he learned his taxes from Donald.
And that would not be enough for life.
No its not a real question, and its also not juvenile. If i were him i would have done the same thing and Im sure he will find a better deal on the market…although after last offseason who knows.
I was simply referring to the comment i replied too. 9 or 17 mil would obviously set him for life, if he isnt already (i dont know how much he has made thus far). I find it funny that us grunts seriously think 30, 40 , 80 mil whatever he ends up getting will ‘set him for life’ when anyone in the world would be set set with 9mil.
But why would he take $17m when he could get $60m, maybe even more?
Exercising his mutual option would’ve given him a one-year, $9MM deal. I’d expect him to get about seven times that on the open market this winter.
I’m surprised the Cubs didn’t flat out decline their end as well. Letting Fowler walk after getting his QO represents the best chance to get more spending money in the draft. That extra cash give them the ability to go over slot in later rounds of the draft to stock up on high upside prospects who can be used as trade chips in future deadline deals.
New Law Era – I get your logic but they had nothing to lose by letting Fowler decline his side. He’s not coming back since there is zero places for him to play full time. So if they decline and he picks up his half of the mutual option that would almost certainly mean he would accept the QO. ( logically if he would play for $9MM then he would play for $17MM), That would mean they would either pay him an extra $8MM for no reason or trade him with a higher salary attached ( as much as he means to the team there are only so many spots someone has to go ). Letting Fowler decline does no harm at all and they will gladly take the pick and the money as you said
No player is going to take a huge paycut just to play for the Cubs. Even if Fowler does want to stay in Chicago he could get way more money from them than he would have gotten if he had picked up his end of the option. Stop it with your delusion.
Jason Heyward took less money to play for the Cubs. I know that doesn’t mean other players will, but don’t act like it won’t happen either.
Sure, some players might take a slight discount to play for the Cubs but this guy was suggesting that Fowler should play for them on a 1-year $9m deal when he’ll easily get more years and more money per year by opting out even if he does re-sign with the Cubs.
Oh and as for Heyward. As I pointed out a little further down the page, the Cubs gave him two opt-outs in his contract while the Cardinals didn’t. Opt outs make a contract much more valuable to a player because if they make a few tweaks to their game that cause them to be a lot more productive or the market changes so that players of their type are getting paid a lot more money, the player in question can opt in to free agency and sign for even more money.
Kind of but mainly because they gave him the option to opt out at year 3 and 4 of the contract which could lead to more money if he does well or guaranteed money if he keeps playing the way he played this season.
Hayward didn’t accept 40% less to play for the Cubs. It was a small difference.
He took the higher aav contract, and the one with multiple opportunities to opt out.
Professional sports us a business. Please understand this.
I agree.
just because he declined his option doesn’t mean he wont be back. The problem is if he came back he would be holding Almora Jr. back. As you remember he scored the go ahead run on great heads up base running. from the tag up,.
So you’d get rid of Dexter Fowler because Almora Jr. had a nice baserunning play that any smart baserunner would do? Are you forgetting that Fowler was 3-5 in that game with a leadoff home run?
They don’t let you live in the stadium. Outside, you’re in Chicago…high crime and murder rate and a winter wind off the lake that can rip you up.
There’s no crime and murder in the parts of Chicago Fowler would be living in. Literally all the crime in Chicago is on the South side, the wild 100s.
I was going to say the same thing, David. The last time I was in Chicago for a game, I witnessed some pretty scary stuff down on the SW side where I planned to stay, needless to say, I changed hotels. I’m originally from Atlanta and have been in some seedy situations but Southside Chicago makes Atlanta look like Mayberry.
Yep. South and SW side are rough. The combination of extreme poverty, high-density population, tons of gangs and the police don’t really ever head down to that part of the city unless necessary, is a pretty toxic stew.
Um $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ I have no idea
This is the funny thing Cubs fans complaining about Fowler opting out but def not complaining when Zo decided to leave KC for more money.
but but but… HE’D BE PLAYING FOR A PERENNIAL CONTENDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No offense to Fowler and thanks for his many contributions, but the Cubs can get .276 and 13 HRs and SBs from Almora for or slightly above the Major League minimum. Time for Dexter to move on to “greener” pastures and more power to him.
Can they get a .390 obp and .450+ slugging %? Highly doubt it. Stop underrating Fowler because he might be leaving the organization.
Hard to assume Almora will just step right in and have success, but I hope we don’t overpay to bring Fowler back. If for whatever reason Dex would take a pay cut I’d love to have him back, but it’s not likely. He is a great table setter. In hindsight I’m sure Theo wishes we could undo the Heyward deal and lock up Fowler.
Almora doesn’t hold a candle to Fowler, offensively. He’s got about a .300 OBP to Dexter’s nearly .400, thanks to a walk rate of 4% compared to 14%. Albert’s defense is better, and probably base running, as well. That closes the gap, somewhat, but in no world can the Cubs get comparable offensive output from Almora, next year. He just doesn’t get on base enough.
I heard the Mets are interested, forget where though
Mets would be smart to sign both Fowler and Desmond over Cespedes. Fowler alone had a better WAR than Cespedes last year. That would cut down the streaky ness of the team.
Giants have an opening in LF. He fits the clubhouse personality
He would have been a perfect fit for the Giants … last offseason. I have to think that they’re looking for more of a middle of the lineup presence for left. Although, with 13 HRS, that might qualify as middle of the order power if you’re the Giants.
His market will be the same this year as last year. The Cubs will probably give him the QO and he will wait until close to the end off free agency for a team to offer him a contract because they don’t know if they want to give up a draft pick for him. He will only get a 1 or 2 year deal with an additional 1 year option.
If we’ve learned anything from the QO system, it’s that teams aren’t so willing to give up a draft pick for a short-term signing. Fowler could get skunked again by the market and roll over for another one-year deal with the Cubs if nothing else materializes, but I agree with Steve, he’s in an ideal position for four or more years.
The Cardinals stand out as the team that makes the most sense here. Put Fowler in CF and shift Grichuk to left. The outfield improves defensively and the lineup gets stronger with a better leadoff hitter in Fowler. They could then take better advantage of Carpenter’s power by batting him 2nd in the lineup.
I’d agree, but I don’t see the Cards offering more than the 60 million for 4 years it will take to sign him. the cards have deep pockets but I see teams like the Giants out bidding them.
I think $80MM/4 years with an opt out after 2017 is what it takes to sign him and I think the Cards can make that happen. Holliday is off the books and they will trade Garcia and most his salary in the next few weeks. They could also try to move Gyorko to free up more salary with the added benefit of one good prospect coming back in return.
I don’t think anyone goes over an AAV of $20MM to get Fowler.
You think that Fowler can get 4/80 (which seems pretty optimistic IMO), but you’re surprised the Cubs didn’t decline a $9 million option? Doesn’t really make a ton of sense
They don’t want him, they want the compensatory pick at the end of the first round to increase their slot pool in the draft. They knew he was going to test the market so why delay the inevitable? Thankfully Fowler made it easier for them. He declined his side and he’s probably going to decline his QO.
After Cespedes, is there really another good OF bat in FA that has the all around appeal that Fowler has? This is one of the most laughable free agent classes in recent history. 4/80 with a 2017 opt out is not as crazy as you think.
If they had him for $9MM and didn’t want him they could easily trade him for Kore value than a sandwich pick. There was no reason for the Cubs to decline their end.
You’re out of your mind if you think Fowler is worth 20mil per year. 12-15mil per max
He posted 4.7 WAR in an injury shortened season. Even if you consider him a 4 WAR player, and factor in decline, then his next four years will be 4 WAR, 3.5, 3, 2.5. 13 WAR using the standard 8.5 mm per WAR would 110 mm.
I don’t think Fowler will get that much, but I think he’ll easily get 4 years and 80 mm in this market.
Ian Desmond, who’s a pretty comparable player.
I think Fowler will get 4/60 and maybe up to 70 max deal. He looks like a good fit for the Cards, Giants, Mets, and Jays. Cespedes will go first but then he should be the second domino to fall this winter.
I think the Cardinals would be a great fit, but Matt Carpenter must stay in the leadoff spot; he’s shown he can’t hit too well anywhere else and, as far as leadoff hitter in baseball, he’s one of the best. He gets on base more than Fowler, has 200 hit potential, and has more power. Fowler would be a good option for the second slot though.
Their OBPs are about equal which is why you’d bat the speedy Fowler in front of the power hitting Carpenter. With that Fowler’s speed and Carpenter’s line-drive power, you would see more runs score from first. I think you’d have to bat Fowler ahead of Carp.
I think the Cardinals need to stay away from Fowler. He isnt exactly an “elite” CF and he is a true lead off man. How does moving Carpenter to the 3 spot (where he cant hit) and throwing Fowler in the lead off role really improve the Cardinals? Its time for the Cardinals to actually do something this year. Go out and sign Cespedes to hit #3. The Cards have been lacking a #3 hitter since Pujols left. Sorry Matt Holliday is and was a clean up guy.
Or go make a good trade.. possibly Jackie Bradley Jr., Pollock, or Blackmon. If they want to compete the need to get a guy in the #3 hole.
I think you misread my first comment. In my scenario (should the Cards get Fowler), Carpenter hits 2, not 3.
I think the Cards will get a CFer through trade, I don’t think they’ll give up a draft pick for Fowler.
A true cf is going to cost them Reyes. So they’d rather give up a Reyes or Weaver type than a comp pick? How does that make sense?
What I would like to see my Cubs do with Fowler may not be the greatest business decision, but in this case it would be well earned.
I would decline to make a qualifying offer to allow Fowler to pursue the best possible offer without having the draft pick compensation hinder him. In addition I would make him a one year 17.2 million offer matching the QO amount and allow him the option to come back and bask in the adulation he would be showered with in the first few months of the season.
Worst case we lose the draft pick while gaining a ton of good will with the team as a whole.
Except this sport is a business. They arent going to let someone walk that is a lock to decline a QO just because they owe him one, which they dont
How often do teams make pure good will offers to players, or vice versa? Basically, never. The Cubs and Fowler are in the exclusive window now; if they want to make him an offer to stay on, this is the time it will happen. Not that it does very often, but if it does, the QO is extra card held by the teams to make it tip it their way, and they are not going to give that card up for an intangible.
That would be a great show of good will and COULD help them in negotiations to try and bring Fowler back. Unfortunately you are right. That’s too risky of a business decision as I believe Fowler is the only Cubs free agent that’s likely to receive a QO.
Seeing as they are picking in the bottom of the first round, the Cubs are likely to get a better pick in the first round from whoever signs Fowler. That’s too much bonus money down the drain if they don’t offer him the QO to get likely better draft pick and all that potential bonus pool money.
The QO pick will be at the end of the first round. You don’t get the same spot the team signing him had.
Yeah NLE. No offense but for how much you are talking about pool money and the like you should really study of on this stuff more and get a better handle on things.
Yeah that’s not realistic. If he’s going to decline 1/$17.2 million (which he will), then it won’t make a difference whether it’s a QO or not. All that that does is ensure your worst-case scenario, which is punting a compensatory pick (probably a top-ten organizational prospect) to maximize Fowler’s earning potential
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You did not just suggest that! Oh my God! MLB is a business first. If the Cubs think Fowler is worth the QO (and he is) there is no reason for them to not extend him one and pick up the extra draft pick if he signs elsewhere. If Fowler thinks the QO is going to hurt him so much, there is nothing stopping him from taking it.
That’s not good will, that’s stupidity. I’m sorry but this is a business and he’s going to get. a better offer than that, while the Cubs lose a draft pick and him instead of gaining any good will.
“Baseball is a business” is one of the most trite phrases to read in comment sections, particularly after the original poster already admitted that his idea is not a good business decision.
His comment wasn’t even worth posting. The Cubs have nothing to lose and everything to gain by QOing Fowler.
Now, if Ricketts, Theo, Jed and Joe decide that their offseason goals revolve around resigning Fowler to a fair deal, (I expect 4 years, $74M) and possibly lock a solid reliever (Ziegler or Uehara?), then that’s a fine offseason plan. It’s certainly more likely, however, that the Cubs decide to sign a lower tier OF like Peter Borjous or MAYBE Josh Reddick, and stick Hayward in CF. If they do something like that, they can sign a guy like Chapman, Melancon, or Jansen to a lengthy deal and hopefully not worry about adding another closer until the next decade. Why not? We’ve seen bullpens are the future of postseason baseball, so the Cubs should invest now.
Bat Zobs leadoff and platoon with Schwarber in LF, Hayward in RF, and Baez at 2nd, depending on matches – here’s a stab at the 2016 lineup:
VS RHP
1. Zobrist 2B
2. Schwarber LF
3. Bryant 3B
4. Rizzo 1B
5. Russell SS
6. Contreras C
7. Heyward RF
8. Almora CF
9. Pitcher
VS LHP
1. Zobrist LF
2. Contreras C
3. Bryant 3B
4. Rizzo 1B
5. Russell SS
6. Baez 2B
7. Heyward RF (maybe Zobrist in RF, and Schwarber in LF instead? Depends on how Heyward recovers. He will start 2017 as the everyday RF though.)
8. Almora CF
9. Pitcher
Essentially, my thoughts are Zobrist as leadoff guy, no matter where he plays.
Actually, the team with the better bullpen LOST the World Series. Both teams overused what they had, and it showed in Game 7 Trying to copy what Miller did for Cleveland is a long shot because he is a rather unique talent. It will actually be interesting to see if Cleveland, with their limited budget, can afford to keep him, at that salary, in that role. I’m guessing he or Allen gets moved.
The team with the better bullpen lost the World Series because the team with the best bullpen pitched with its real 7th and 8th inning guys injured. Both Strop and Rondon were hurt the last two months and never recovered to be effective. Strop, Rondon, and Chapman for 7-8-9 would have been every bit the same as the Royals bullpen the previous two years
Kind of an odd series as the Indians starters were the ones injured. Certainly a differently shaped series with Carrasco and Salazar in the rotation.
It was like watching good old little league baseball where the pitchers were only allowed to pitch a certain number of innings and had to come out.
Cubs were able to win because Chapman was able to pitch a little bit better than Miller in the end.
The big difference is that Cleveland HAD to overuse their guys because their #2 and #3 starters were hurt. Imagine how overused the Cubs bullpen would’ve been if Joe couldn’t start Arrieta and Hendricks in the playoffs.
70mil/4 years He’s a true lead off hitter, not many left in the game.
I don’t believe Fowler will have the same difficulty this offseason that he did last year, especially if he were open to playing a corner outfield spot as well. With his changes he proved he is an improved defender. His offense (OBP, for sure) showed a significant jump too. I can also see 4 years (3 without any doubts) and in the realm of 16 million per season. As a Jays fan, I wouldn’t mind one bit if he came to Toronto under those terms I mentioned. Only time knows!
Trade heyward for a couple wiffle ball bats and resign fowler
No that would be dumb. He had an off year he has a full no trade clause. He has an opt out at 3rd and 4th years. If they win again . I don’t see him opting out at all. and staying for the full 8 years.
He’d be stupid to opt out, he’s getting paid $25 million per year to play golf glove defense.
Why would he waive his no trade clause?
Why would Heyward waive his no trade clause?
Should the Angels have waited?
for what? Why would they want to pay double for an older version of what they just traded for?
I don’t see him as a good fit in St. Louis. He’d be good in our lead off spot, but that’s Carps preferred spot to hit. I don’t know if defensively fowler is much improvement over grichuk defensively and that’s our biggest need for improvement
Dexter Fowler and Ian Desmond have raised their stocks considerably this season. They won’t have difficulty finding the team. In fact, there will almost certainly be a crazy bidding war and they will be buried with the stupid amount of money that they don’t even know how to spend at all.
yeah we’ll see, sure
Jays could use him!
The man’s about to make a loooooot of money. Good luck to him this winter!
Edwin Jackson comes off the books. Is there enough money to cover arbitration increases, Fowler, and a closer?
There’s enough money. But that’s not how Team Theo wants this to roll.
Give him the QO. Draft and develop the guy they get in the 30 range. Trust the process, as always.
If the Cardinals want him nobody is going to outbid them as someone suggested. They have deep pockets. I think it would be a great move.
Do you not remember last off-season? The Cardinals will have an amount they believe he’s worth, and won’t go above that.
They outbid the cubs for Heyward but for goodness sake they lost out to the cubs. What an awful signing that was. I’m sure Fowler would be much less and he’s twice the player Heyward is.
The Cubs gave Heyward two opt-outs. Those really help the true value of his contract.
They’re player opt=outs – virtually meaningless if Heyward doesn’t live up to the contract…
But having the ability to opt out in the future if he is so inclined does have value to him, even if he doesn’t end up opting out.
Heyward was a great signing if they don;t have him he doesn’t make the play of the year in the world series in game 4 or 5 i think it was. He had an off years that’s all. He’ll be fine.
You think 170 million dollars for a guy that hit 230 was a great sign. LOL
Yeah I can think a couple of teams that could outbid the cardinals!
Just like last year, he makes a ton of sense for the other side of Chicago assuming they won’t finally blow it up and rebuild (they won’t). I know they were interested last year and got in touch with his agent after he backed out of whatever deal he did or didn’t have in place with them.
He would look fantastic in Mariner blue manning one of the corner outfield positions!
He would be so incredibly useful. Finding a good corner OF seemingly should be a top priority this offseason and Fowler makes a lot of sense (a given of course), especially if Dipoto is serious about improving defensively.
It’s a weak market. He hit better this year than last, he played better D, and he’s now a veteran World Champion with a leadoff game 7 HR to his resume. Yeah he’ll get signed way sooner. I think 4 years 64 million. Unless he can get 2-3 team bidding and he may get a 5th year and 80-85 million
but why would he sign to a similar rate as the QO? He’ll probalby get an annual average of $20M
honestly they need to lock up Chapman or go after Kenley Jansen. offer Chapman 4 years 70mil for a closer thats a ton of money.. 17.5 Mil AAV. Then give Arrieta 5 years with 2 year optiopn that include incentives cy young , ERA title MVP etc. It’s no secret he want 7 years. anything more than 5 years for a pitcher has never ever worked out. give him what he want just make it options. and i’d say 230 mil for up 7 years isn’t out of the question. That’s 32.86 mil AAV. He’s 31 so this would be his last contract.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. No. No. Neither Chapman nor Arrieta is signing for that little money. And both will test free agency when they are eligible. And I don’t care about “They would be signing with the team they just got a ring with and will probably get more with.”
Chapman will get near 5 years and 100 mm. But there’s no way Arrieta will get that kind of money, especially not for the Cubs. It’s all but a certainty the Cubs let Arrieta walk. If he repeats this year’s performance, I only see him getting a maximum of 6 years and 150-170 mm.
Nice use of the word “only”.
Because the post he’s commenting about added a 7th year and another 80mil onto the contract? Seems like a good reason to add only when you’re saying he’all get significantly less…
How is 70mil for a closer not a lot of money?
No pitcher has ever done well with 7 or more year deals. Arrieta won’t be an exception he wants 7years he’s gonna have to meet in the middle a little bit take only 6 years. And for 230mil that’s 38mil aav. And according to you That’s not enough.
I honestly don’t get this, he just won a World Series with the best team in baseball
Lol. So you expect him to take a GIANT paycut just for that? He’s going to get a lot more than $9m this offseason and he’ll get it over more than one year, even if he re-signs with the Cubs.
Pujols left after he won with the Cards, all about money
Pujols was also 35when he left. And Anaheim was perfect for him at his age. 80% of his time was planned to be at DH.
Best team changes year to year. Guaranteed contracts are guaranteed. The Cubs went through the year pretty healthy. They got Schwarber back able to DH. The Indians were a rain delay away. They didn’t have Brantley, Carrasco, or a stretched out Salazar. Kind of a lot better than seeing tomlin and Bauer *2 and Kluber *3..
Maybe he will be next years Zobrist and win the WS with another team. Cubs fans are just as whiny as KC fans were last year (when Zobrist became a FA).
He’s already didn’t get a raise from winning the World Series
I’m just glad Cards don’t have that atrocious contract of Heyward- but he picked the right team
Why is it atrocious? Its been one year. He had an off year. 2017 he’ll hit .290 with 20hrs and 90rbi. Comeback player of the year.
I think lost in this is that Fowler is a bit redundant for the Cubs. The Cubs want to get Almora a real shot, Heyward can play center a bit of the time, Zobrist can play in the outfield, Schwarber will play left most of the time, the Cubs still have that guy whose name I can’t spell as the fourth outfielder, plus Soler is still there and you know the Cubs want to play Baez as much as they can. Bryant will see some time in the outfield…it’s a good problem to have. Even with the huge payroll the Cubs could spend that money on bullpen pieces, considering Maddon only trusted two relievers in the postseason, basically.
They need to re-sign Chapman. I dont think theo pulls the trigger on Torres to get Chapman if he wasn’t curtain he would be able to re-sign Chapman. They need Chapman and Travis wood and one maybe 2 more relievers. They are built to win 4 or 5 times in the next 10 years. I won’t put it passed them to repeat.
There’s your problem. You NEVER trade for a pending free agent under the assumption that you will be able to re-sign him. EVER! You trade whatever you think two months of him is worth and if you happen to re-sign him then that’s just gravy. If that is what Theo wanted he should have only made that trade contingent on an extension, which Chapman never would have agreed to so they were fxxked either way.
Chapman may very well sign with the Cubs but them trading for him doesn’t make it any more likely and Theo definitely wasn’t certain he would be able to sign Chapman or anyone.
I think the cubs will sign Chapman. It makes no sense for him go back to the Jankees. They aren’t Ready to win. Cubs are. If they don’t. Kenley Jansen and maybe even Mark Melacon go to the cubs.. In my 30 years of being a cubs fan. No one ever wanted to play there. After Lester and Hryward. Everyone is wanting to go there. I’d love Chapman back. If he doesn’t. The cubs will be fine..
If I’m the Phillies, I offer him 4/84 very early in the process and give him a deadline to say yay or nay. Maybe his fears of a long wait like last winter spur him to say yes.
They have money to spend, want a veteran and, IMO, he’s a great guy to fold into that rebuild. OBP is a huge problem for the offense. Setting Fowler at the top of the order will help get guys on base for their young middle-of-order hitters, who too often face the extra developmental crutch of having to bat against pitchers who don’t have to deal with baserunner pressure. Facing Franco with 2 on is a lot different than facing Franco with the bases empty and two outs. And maybe some of Fowler’s plate patience, plus the new guidance of hitting coach Matt Stairs, could trickle down to the young guys during these key formative seasons.
it would be pay back if the Cards signed him
Would Cubs fans get to threaten Fowler over it as well like Cards fans did to Heyward?
That’s fine get your moneyFowler the Cubs got Almora /Scrur both will make good leaders and better fielders almost as good hitting