Cubs re-sign Dexter Fowler

[Ryno84MVP]

Cubs have re-signed outfielder Dexter Fowler to a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2017, tweets Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. He’ll receive $8MM in 2016. The mutual option is for $9MM with a $5MM buyout

https://twitter.com/MDGonzales

[joncarlos]

Wait, what?

[The Dane]

I guess that puts Heyward in right, Fowler in center, and Soler/Schwarber in left, and Schwarber also backing up Montero at catcher.

That's a lot of talent out there. They're probably not maximizing their use of Soler, but that's still a lot to work with.

[Moonlight J]

That lineup is going to be insane. This also allows them to move a bat for another arm as well. Sick, sick sick

[DMT]

Stupid for Fowler, stupid for the Cubs, bullet dodged for Baltimore.

Why stupid for Cubs?

[Pogues]

Why stupid for Cubs?

Guessing it has to do with Soler, Schwarber, and Heyward.

[Piney Boy]

Any info yet on why Fowler spurned the Orioles?

[Hornsby]

Everyone loses AB's here, and the main loser is Schwarber, unless they plan to play him at catcher 3 days a week after all. No more Zobrist to the OF, no more Baez shuttling in for Zobrist, no more Bryant to the OF on occasion. The only three I see being stable are Rizzo, Russell, and Heyward. Soler goes down to a late round draft/single digit auction guy. And all of those guys who had/are having slow drafts who picked Schwarber high are pulling their hair out now.

The team will be better for it, and Maddon will be overjoyed, because he can tinker to his hearts content.

[Ryno84MVP]

Any info yet on why Fowler spurned the Orioles?

The signing reportedly fell through when Fowler demanded an early opt out after one season and the Orioles did not want to lose a first round pick to sign a player for one season.

[Controller Jacobs]

For the last three years, Fowler has been decent vs RHP, terrific vs LHP:
Fowler vs RHP
2015: .228/.331/.395
2014: .260/.361/.376
2013: .237/.349/.392
Fowler vs LHP
2015: .326/.399/.467
2014: .327/.419/.467
2013: .323/.417/.444

Heyward was brutal vs LHP in 2014, but overall is the flip-side of Fowler:
Heyward vs RHP
2015: .301/.364/.470
2014: .304/.384/.436
2013: .250/.350/.415
Heyward vs LHP
2015: .272/.344/.364
2014: .169/.252/.225 -- ouch! --
2013: .264/.347/.455

Perhaps we'll see a different leadoff hitter depending on opposing starter

[madducks]

Maybe a Fowler/Schwarber (.143 vs LHP) platoon?

With Heyward moving back and forth between CF and RF. Yeah, there's a lot of moving parts on this team.

[Controller Jacobs]

Maybe a Fowler/Schwarber (.143 vs LHP) platoon?

I'd personally be stunned if that was the plan going into the season. Pittsburgh is the only division opponent projected to have more than one lefty. Not that I think they should be burying Soler and Baez.

[madducks]

Right now i think the only Cubs hitters you can hope to get 500 ABs from are Rizzo, Zobrist, Bryant, and Heyward.

[Gregg]

Right now i think the only Cubs hitters you can hope to get 500 ABs from are Rizzo, Zobrist, Bryant, and Heyward.

Yep. Love the Cubs line up for real baseball. Not so much for fantasy.

[Hornsby]

The pissing match has commenced between Casey Close (Fowlers agent) and the O's. Close accusing Baltimore, and the media, of being irresponsible by saying that Fowler was signing, even though his client supposedly called Adam Jones to tell him how excited he was to join him. Douquette responded by saying "If the player chooses to take less money to go with another team, that's their choice."

Well done by Close to get both less money and less years for a client who couldn't get a deal, and now has to enter the market again next year, a year older, or take another crappy 1 year deal. Well done Casey Close, well done.