Dexter Fowler

[heyzeus]

My hunch is we sign him. That .393 OBP from last season looks pretty nice, even if it's well above his career rate of .366. What would it take to get it done? Is his defense good enough to put him in CF?

[Farewell Friends]

I'd prefer him in left and the Cardinals getting a new center fielder via trade.

[vinsanity]

Fowler has been the 25th best OFer the last 3 seasons at 9.5 fWAR and 7th in OBP (with >1000 ABs) at .369. His terrible defensive year was in HOU, his CF UZR puts him a little below average on defense so I'd be ok with him there but it feels like you're trading a little defense in CF from Grichuk for a little OBP from Fowler. Fowler's also a better baserunner. I think IF defense is more important than OF, even CF, with a ground ball staff.

Grichuk is just an interesting case.

[lukethedrifter]

The eye test says Grichuk's defense is suspect.

[MrCrowesGarden]

I want Fowler. I'm on board with paying for players with money instead of other players when possible, and Fowler certainly fits what I want.

Still would like to get a better IF defender, and there's none I really love in free agency, so that may need to be a trade.

[Freed Roger]

Running low on 1st basemen.....can never have enough of them.

[BW23]

I thought about starting just an overall CF thread yesterday (or seeing if there was one). What are the realistic options? Clearly, Fowler is the most logical in terms of availability. Some of the guys a lot of us want may not be dealt at all. Here's the options as I see it.

Not available: Trout, JBJ, Pillar, A. Jones, L. Martin, Span, Turner, Pederson, Hamilton.

Hard to get: Blackmon, Inciarte, Herrera, Kiermaier, Cain, Ozuna

Free agent: Fowler, Desmond, Gomez

Others to consider: Ellsbury

No reason to talk about the first group. The rest are all game.

I've said it before, but of the rest, Kiermaier may be my favorite even if I think WAR overvalues him. Young, athletic, fast, defensive wizard with room to improve at bat. I also think that he'd cost the most in terms of players needed to even get Tampa to not hang up laughing. If they were to deal Kiermaier, which would be stupid to do IMO, it's hard to say what they'd want. Dealing KK means they're likely dealing someone like Archer, too. And Archer could/should bring more than Sale. But if they want to contend for a WC, they likely keep Archer and KK. I don't think they move Longoria at all. Maybe a Bader, Weaver, Adams, Sosa deal at least starts the conversation. I think they'd want better quality, though. And they could prefer Grichuk over Adams.

Blackmon is probably the next best target in terms of trade. He, too, will be hard to get not only from a player-trade standpoint but also because the Rox will think they'll compete next year. They'll need his glove (and bat) to do so. I'd guess the same kind of deal gets them on the phone, with maybe swapping Adams out with someone like Wong or Grichuk.

Herrera Not a name discussed really. I've heard his name dropped a few times elsewhere, and he's shown that he's a good defender who maybe doesn't pass the eye test, similar to Grichuk. I don't really see how or why they'd deal him, to be honest. He's not even arbitration eligible yet.

Inciarte is someone the Braves would be foolish to move. If they did, it would be for a cornerstone player.

Cain has seen his name thrown around, too. I think KC holds on to him until July. He's not young really, and he's one year from free agency. Not a good fit, especially coming off injuries.

The Marlins have had their fill of Ozuna, and he did enough in the first half last year to boost his stock a little. Still yet, his second half was a big dropoff, and they'll look for a top SP if they deal him following Fernandez's death. Boras and Ozuna have given the team fits off the field, and the Fish will want something the Cards can't offer.

Ellsbury is a name rarely brought up anywhere. Lots of money owed, and he has a FNTC. Might not be a good fit, but it might not take much if a team were to convince him to waive NTC and to take on most of the money. Huge longshot, anyway.

So that leaves the free agents. Fowler makes most sense in terms of production and character. I've been a fan of his since he was drafted, and while he may never have reached what I thought he might, he's had very good years. He makes the most sense, IMO, when all things are considered. One could even make an argument for him if Grichuk were dealt in a trade for someone like Kiermaier, pegging Fowler for LF. I was completely against trying to sign him when the offseason started, but looking at how hard, or even impossible, it will be to add a CF through trade without giving up Reyes, he seems to be the most likely option.

Desmond just doesn't make sense for a CF that the Cards have described they want, and Gomez should not even be considered.

[go birds]

kevin kiermaier screams peter bourjos with more pop.

not saying im against the idea of acquiring him to improve defense, but he's going to be way too expensive for my taste, prospect wise.

[BW23]

kevin kiermaier screams peter bourjos with more pop.

not saying im against the idea of acquiring him to improve defense, but he's going to be way too expensive for my taste, prospect wise.

I think the comp is that they're both fast and don't hit as well as fans might want. That's where it stops. Defensively and on the bases, KK is far, far superior. And while I continue to say that WAR overvalues those things, what KK did this year defensively in just a little over 100 games was much better than anyone who played a full season. He's just that good. But you're right, the prospect price will be hard to take. Getting him for four more years as he moves into his peak means it will be high. Again, I don't think he's remotely available, either.

Edmonds has mentioned on the broadcasts how difficult it would be to patrol CF in Busch III on a regular basis. He's talked about how it plays much bigger than what he played in with Busch II, to the point he wouldn't be able to play as shallow at III.

I think Grichuk's problems defensively are much like Wong's. Their misplays seem to happen on things that don't look too difficult. Grichuk seems to misplay linedrives right at him, the hardest ball to read at any position. Maybe it gets better with time. He's absolutely great coming in on balls, and his routes are typically good going back on balls. I think when he doesn't look good with the eye test it's that his misplays just look terrible. I also don't think his arm is as strong as it was before he got hurt in 15.

I'd still be comfortable with him in CF, but I think the front office has made it clear they're not comfortable.

[heyzeus]

That's a great rundown, BW.

I know he has his own thread already, but Cespedes also has to get mentioned. He's about the same age as Fowler, has more power, and will cost a whole lot more money.

Would 3/50 land Fowler? 4/70?