The Blue Jays and free agent outfielder Dexter Fowler are “apart” in talks, per FanRag’s Jon Heyman, who adds that the Cardinals remain a “strong possibility” to land the soon-to-be former Cub (Twitter link). The Giants were also in the running for the 30-year-old as of last week, though it’s unclear if that’s still the case. Fowler is reportedly seeking $18MM per annum on a multiyear deal.
More from around the majors:
- The Astros have been ultra-aggressive in upgrading their roster this offseason, yet team president Reid Ryan indicated Sunday that they’re still missing a major piece. “What we lack is that starter who you pencil in at the top of the rotation that is an automatic W,” Ryan told MLB Network Radio (Twitter link). Houston does have 2015 AL Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel atop its rotation, though his production took steps backward during a shoulder injury-shortened 2016. Notably, the Astros are in the mix for White Sox ace Chris Sale and the Rays’ starters, including Chris Archer.
- The Rangers have two star-caliber players entering contract years in ace Yu Darvish and catcher Jonathan Lucroy, but the team is unlikely to discuss extensions with either during the winter meetings, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). For now, the reigning AL West champions’ focus is on making outside acquisitions. The Rangers could certainly turn their attention to new deals for Darvish and Lucroy later in the offseason.
- Even though Joe Nathan turned 42 last month, the free agent reliever plans to continue his career and is drawing interest from clubs, tweets Heyman. Nathan, who’s eighth on the all-time saves list (377), returned from 2015 Tommy John surgery to throw a combined 6 1/3 scoreless innings with the Cubs and Giants last season.
- The market for free agent catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is “moving,” a source told SB Nation’s Chris Castillo, who reports that three teams are chasing the 31-year-old (Twitter link). The switch-hitter batted just .171/.284/.346 in 292 plate appearances with the Tigers in 2016, and both Baseball Prospectus and StatCorner assigned him negative defensive grades.
I wouldn’t mind to see the Cardinals do a 4 year front loaded contract with Fowler. Much the same as they did with Peralta. For Fowler, $20, $18, $16, $15——– Laden the back 2 years with incentives.
fowler adds nothing to st louis
I wouldn’t say nothing because he is a good offensive bat but the price is way too high for a player that is a marginal defender. Add in losing a draft pick in a year where there is a deep pool of talent at the top end. It would be a big mistake.
Careful, many people on here claim Fowler is an elite defender and the greatest lead off hitter of all time.
I agree that he is a marginal defender and I also think he is above average on offense, but nowhere near great…much less elite.
He’s neither of those 2 things, however, he was certainly an intricate piece to a WS championship.
I mean a lead off mans job is to get on base. Pitchers don’t want that. That’s bad. A pitcher would almost rather give up solo homeruns then walk lead off hitters. Dexter Fowler can get on base or hit the deep ball switch hitting. Really valuable stuff. Defensively he’s good. Not a strong arm but he’s really solid.
All of the media seems to think Fowler is the Cardinals fit. I disagree. I believe Mo will pursue Travis Jankowski or Byron Buxton. Possibly Adam Eaton if the price is right.
lol the twins won’t trade Buxton
We can speculate names but I agree with your premise. Fowler is not the answer to their CF problem
Obviously the Jays and Fowler are “apart” otherwise a contract would have been signed. He is “apart” from all clubs interested in signing him. Way to try and make news when there really isn’t any.
Way to be a a jerk…. ummm… when you really are.
During the winter meetings, that actually IS news. Toronto was the major player until this point. Looks like it may shift to St. Louis.
There has been no major player- no one has been linked to “intense” meetings or negotiations. The news could have been for any team linked to conversations with Fowler. And that is my point. It brought nothing new to the table. News is by definition bringing new information to the public. Just think it was filler to get the meetings rolling and I guarantee NOBODY was unaware of this, if we thought about it at all.
Well, “apart” to me, means they are far apart, which is news. If they were close and working towards something, their negotiations wouldn’t be described that way. I guess you’re just choosing to read it literally and then exclaim that it isn’t news because “duh, of course they’re apart”.
This might not be the place for you.
Fowler was the catalyst of that cub team the last two years. I believe he would be a great pick up for the Cardinals. He’s much more valuable then Heyward will ever be.
It’s also a lot easier to hit when you have Bryant and Rizzo batting behind you
I bet you couldn’t hit in front of those guys. Yea, it sure is “Easy” to hit major league pitching. Guys still have to hit the ball, no matter who’s behind them. Quit trying to minimize the guys success.
When Fowler was out this year, the Cubs were not a good team. That was when they hit the skids. They only returned to form when Fowler returned. Coincidence? Maybe. I don’t think so though.
The pitching was bad during that stretch as well, and he certainly didn’t have anything to do with that. I don’t remember the lineup structure/choices during the time he was out, but if Zobrist would’ve been leading off instead of guys like LaStella and whoever else, they would’ve been fine. More so, the Cubs struggled when Fowler went out simply because no one was carrying the team as before that Fowler, Zobrist, Bryant, Rizzo, and Russell took turns (with some overlap) of carrying the offense during the teams hot streak.
I do not think his point was that he could hit or you could. But the fact us many teams set lineups or try to acquire lineups for protection of others. Fowler is good. Does it help having Bryant and Rizzo hit behind him? Of Course it does. It helps. He was not saying Fowler was no good without them
This is the only thing that is a fact in this exchange.
Cubs were 80-38 in Fowler starts, 23-20 when he didn’t.
I’m sure he had an impact on that. But also, the pitching slid and he had nothing to do with that.
Some people don’t understand how critical it is for MAJOR LEAGUE hitters to have great guys hitting around them. When you are a slightly above average offensive player, your stats will greatly benefit from having guys like those behind you. Pitchers no longer pitch around you as they will try to get you to beat them heads up, since the guys behind you pose a threat of a much greater magnitude.
Yes, he enjoyed pretty good success in that lineup, but put him on an abysmal team in favor of top dollar and watch him regress back to the mean.
If pitchers were so dedicated in pitching to fowler because they felt they had to pitch around Bryant and Rizzo they did a poor job.
Fowler seems to walk a lot and have an extremely high O.B.P. for being pitched to?
But there has been studies that use FACTS to show that protection in a lineup is a myth. But don’t let that get in the way of your imaginary argument.
Lineup protection is a proven myth.
Batting is a one on one event. The pitcher doesn’t pitch worse (and then after doesn’t hit better) because of the person in the on deck circle.
Yep. Highest walk rate of his career because they were pitching to him to keep him off base. Make sense?
All these rumors are killin me…..come on Mo do something!
It’s the beginning of free agency and he already signed Cecil and traded Garcia.
They only have one need left
I disagree with that Jfactor.
They have an infield problem.
What to do about 3rd base. Peralta was well below average defensively at 3rd last year. We are all hoping Diaz does better this year than last year because he seemed to improve after that terrible defensive start and amazing offensive start to last season. I Would like to see Turner at 3rd too. We need center fielder and Justin Turner at 3rd.
My opinion.
I disagree.
Peralta is in his final year and DeJong and others are coming.
We have Gyroko and Carpenter capable of helping at third as well. I wouldn’t touch the infield and I certainly wouldn’t give up money and comp picks to do so.
I would be fine trading for an outfield piece, but I’m not certain who they would offer. And I think Bader is the long term left fielder
Many contemporary observers of the Jays’ scene didn’t feel that Fowler was coming to TO.
like this year’s leaves, though, let EE and JB fall where he may …. with another team. The Js need to change not only the ‘old age’ makeup of the team, but the way in which the umps treat its players, and esp its hitters..
What is dishevelling to this rocking-horse winner is the way the admin recently described its manager as a polarizing figure and a second-to-none orator as a reason they are keeping him: I hope this in itself is not a foreboding that it intends to re-sign either of those esteemed ballplayers.
It’s just not Moz’s MO to get rid of a prospect for a win-now player and expensive contract. In fact, I don’t think he’s ever bought a compensation attached free agent. Doubt he starts now by giving one to the Cubs.
Fowler is a nice player, but not the fit they need.
Lucroy and Darvish to the cubs in 2018. Montero will be gone and Contreras and Lucroy is one hell of a backstop. Both can be in the lineup as well when Contreras plays left. When schwarber has a day off. 4/100 for Darvish. 3/75 for Lucroy
Jays should trade for Miguel Cabrera and sign Ben Revere cheap. Boom!!