Dexter Fowler

[BW23]

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?

Thanks. I thought about including LF (the only place Cespedes should be allowed), but that was a lot more time than I wanted to do! I've never liked him as a fit, and I'm not sure the front office does when factoring in youth/athleticism/character/ability to play CF. But the bat does play for sure.

[haltz]

[mul21]

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?

He'd be a great fit for the Cards needs and has been better on defense since he started playing deeper at the Cubs suggestion. If he takes 3/$50, I'll be very surprised if he's not back in Chicago.

[BW23]

So, he can pitch, too.

[Fat Strat]

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.

I think you can forget about INF help. I know it's super early, but from all indications, we are going into the season with the INF that we have right now. Gyorko/Peralta ----- Diaz ----- Wong ----- Carpenter. Peralta, then, is your UT and Garcia, who has earned the chance to stick, is your MI. I think it will take something extreme to break that up, largely because Wong is probably worth keeping around for awhile (though you don't have to start him) and we're pretty much stuck with Peralta (you don't have to start him, either). I can understand the desire to keep Gyorko in the lineup as well. It's not a bad infield. Not a great infield, either. But, I do think it's a finished infield.

I also think that we'll really try to sign Fowler and then if that doesn't work out (it probably won't) we'll move on to comparable players in CF for plan B. Not Cespedes. Outside of some bullpen help, I think that's pretty much your club. I just don't see us making much of a splash or really making any effort to try and catch the Cubs. Talent is just not there and not really acquirable to get us even with the likely 100+ win Cubs. Not really much out there, honestly.

[Fat Strat]

Just as a follow up post to that one, I do think there will be other moves. Adams will get traded. Wouldn't surprise me if Garcia was moved. But, I don't see either of those moves landing us impact pieces on the MLB roster. Garcia is more valuable than some think. As is Adams, but it would not surprise me if we used them to grab good, near-MLB prospects. Not great prospects, but good prospects. Like when we got Grichuk or Freese. Seems like a good time to snag pieces like that who can be role players or flexible parts of our next real division championship push.

[jagtrader]

This thread is a year late.

[BW23]

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.

I think you can forget about INF help. I know it's super early, but from all indications, we are going into the season with the INF that we have right now. Gyorko/Peralta ----- Diaz ----- Wong ----- Carpenter. Peralta, then, is your UT and Garcia, who has earned the chance to stick, is your MI. I think it will take something extreme to break that up, largely because Wong is probably worth keeping around for awhile (though you don't have to start him) and we're pretty much stuck with Peralta (you don't have to start him, either). I can understand the desire to keep Gyorko in the lineup as well. It's not a bad infield. Not a great infield, either. But, I do think it's a finished infield.

I also think that we'll really try to sign Fowler and then if that doesn't work out (it probably won't) we'll move on to comparable players in CF for plan B. Not Cespedes. Outside of some bullpen help, I think that's pretty much your club. I just don't see us making much of a splash or really making any effort to try and catch the Cubs. Talent is just not there and not really acquirable to get us even with the likely 100+ win Cubs. Not really much out there, honestly.

Agree (on both posts).

I've been wanting to look at the relief help, particularly LH relief, but I haven't had much of a chance to yet. Brett Cecil is someone I wouldn't mind dumping money on, possibly. I think he'd be more of a poor man's Andrew Miller (which I hate comparing anyone to at this point) that could come into a game at any moment/situation.

I also think Adams gets dumped. The AL seems likely. I know everyone thinks Garcia will get dealt, and that is most likely to happen. I just think a SP will get dealt, and Garcia was kept for that...either to be dealt or to fill in for said traded pitcher. But if I look at the roster, Leake is really the only one that they'd trade, and he's not likely to be moved at this point. Wacha isn't even penciled in the rotation, and his value is too low.

[IMADreamer]

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.

I think you can forget about INF help. I know it's super early, but from all indications, we are going into the season with the INF that we have right now. Gyorko/Peralta ----- Diaz ----- Wong ----- Carpenter. Peralta, then, is your UT and Garcia, who has earned the chance to stick, is your MI. I think it will take something extreme to break that up, largely because Wong is probably worth keeping around for awhile (though you don't have to start him) and we're pretty much stuck with Peralta (you don't have to start him, either). I can understand the desire to keep Gyorko in the lineup as well. It's not a bad infield. Not a great infield, either. But, I do think it's a finished infield.

I also think that we'll really try to sign Fowler and then if that doesn't work out (it probably won't) we'll move on to comparable players in CF for plan B. Not Cespedes. Outside of some bullpen help, I think that's pretty much your club. I just don't see us making much of a splash or really making any effort to try and catch the Cubs. Talent is just not there and not really acquirable to get us even with the likely 100+ win Cubs. Not really much out there, honestly.

So just mail it in for the next 10 years? That doesn't seem like an option or a good idea. This team was not terrible last year. Frustrating sure but not terrible. Don't you put together the best team you can even if you are staring up at a 100 win team? I mean if the Cubs have a few injuries all the sudden they aren't a 100 win team.

I sure hope the front office doesn't have the "oh well we won't catch the Cubs anyway" attitude.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

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?

I find Fangraphs' contract crowdsourcing to be a useful benchmark: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2017-top-50-free-agents/

In past years they've been about 1 year and a handful of million lower than reality, but recently they've gotten better. For example, the average and median for Reddick was 4/50 and 4/56 respectively, and he signed for 4/52.

As it relates to Fowler, their estimate is 4/64, and that's the approximate target I've seen several times, so odds are you're looking at 4/65 to 4/70, and the outside chance that some team goes to 5/80.