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JL21 wrote:Whatever you think of the dude, and I understand that there are fair criticisms, he is absolutely 100% a baseball person.

Dexter Fowler Should Age Well, Regardless of the Defense

by Craig Edwards - November 18, 2016

Of course, even if the pre-Chicago version of Fowler is the real one, he actually still profiles as a decent player. He has a fantastic walk rate, has exhibited average power as a major leaguer, makes good contact — and, since leaving hitter-friendly Coors Field, has managed to produce a 121 wRC+, well above league average. Dexter Fowler the Hitter and Dexter Fowler the Fielder present two different points from which to begin an analysis of his future value. Let’s take a look at both.

jwill182 wrote:Some of you are WAY over-valuing Fowler...

4 years, $80M? Are you insane? For what? He's not good defensively, he doesn't hit for a high average, he doesn't steal many bases, and he'll be 31 in March. So you're giving him $20M/yr based SOLELY on the fact that he walks a lot. That's all he does well.

I'm not saying he sucks, and I'm not even saying that I wouldn't take him...but not at $20M/yr!

Josh Reddick has played about 1.5 seasons fewer than Fowler and his career WAR is only 4 less than Fowler. That's roughly 2.5 WAR per year. I get that, trust me. But what you apparently aren't considering is that Fowler has played 90% of his career in 2 of the best offensive parks in baseball, while Reddick has played in 2 neutral-ish parks for his entire career. And while that may not account for all of that difference, I feel like it should apply to at least 2 of that 4 WAR.

Either way, my point is this. They aren't THAT different from each other in the end. They are both very similar levels of talent overall, one just has better defense and the other has better On Base skills. Reddick just got $13M/yr, and some on here are wanting to give Fowler $20+M/yr.

That's my point. Fowler isn't $7M/yr better than Reddick. Not even close. If someone wants to overpay for him, let them. There's a reason he only got $8M last year in free agency. So by that logic, Reddick should have only earned $1M last year.

You want Fowler, great. Try to sign him. Just don't offer him $17+M/yr, because he isn't worth it.

pioneer98 wrote:If they miss out on Fowler, this is not a huge loss.

MrCrowesGarden wrote:

pioneer98 wrote:If they miss out on Fowler, this is not a huge loss.

In and of itself, maybe not (though I still want him). If it's indicative of our manager being the reason good FAs don't come here then it is.

pioneer98 wrote:

MrCrowesGarden wrote:

pioneer98 wrote:If they miss out on Fowler, this is not a huge loss.

In and of itself, maybe not (though I still want him). If it's indicative of our manager being the reason good FAs don't come here then it is.

I don't get why players wouldn't like Matheny. If anything, he's overly loyal to regular starters (like Fowler would be), and even role players for that matter. Maybe it's his lack of clubhouse gimmicks. Maybe Heyward badmouthed Matheny. I don't get it.

MrCrowesGarden wrote:

pioneer98 wrote:

MrCrowesGarden wrote:

pioneer98 wrote:If they miss out on Fowler, this is not a huge loss.

In and of itself, maybe not (though I still want him). If it's indicative of our manager being the reason good FAs don't come here then it is.

I don't get why players wouldn't like Matheny. If anything, he's overly loyal to regular starters (like Fowler would be), and even role players for that matter. Maybe it's his lack of clubhouse gimmicks. Maybe Heyward badmouthed Matheny. I don't get it.

I'm sure there are players who wouldn't like playing for Maddon, but I don't think that's on the same level as Matheny. I mean we saw stick up his ass Lackey join the Cubs. Matheny's uber traditionalism is probably far more grating.