Whether this actually impacts NL Central or not, this is just great news: we no longer need to feel a little weird about rooting for or against old friend Dexter Fowler. He is no longer a cardinal!
Fowler has been traded to his longtime manager, Joe Maddon, and the Angels:
OFFICIAL: The # Angels OR Dexter Fowler and have cash benefits from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Welcome to the Halos, @DexterFowler! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/BdcYTW8a0N
– Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) February 5, 2021
Cards cause the player to be mentioned again in the Fowler trade, so this looks like a salary dump. Fowler is reunited with Joe Maddon.
– Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 5, 2021
Fowler, 35 in March, is in the final year of the big deal he signed with the Cardinals after leaving the Cubs, a move that didn’t really work out well for either the Cardinals or the Cubs. In recent years, Fowler has transitioned to a part-time outfielder with an undersized bat and decent defense. But he is undoubtedly still a bright spot in the clubhouse, was still on the base at a good clip in 2019 and is likely improving the general outfield mix on the Angels. If nothing else, it could give them more coverage to give top youngster Jo Adell more time at AAA.
I wonder if this step, which will free up some paycheck for the cardinals (although I assume they eat some too), precedes another addition. Rumor has it that the Cardinals are part of (pricey) starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi. UPDATE on that – yes, the cardinals eat A LOT of salary:
The Cards are also responsible for the last two $ 1 million installments in Fowler’s signing bonus, so the Angels’ total cost for an experienced 4th oufielder is only $ 1.75 million.
– Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) February 5, 2021
That’s not much of a savings for the Cardinals, leaving you wondering again if there’s a very specific need they’ll be filling with that $ 1.75 million soon (plus how much they have left in the budget).
But for now, I’m just glad Dexter Fowler is finally out of St. Louis.
whoopsiedoodle pic.twitter.com/6hEOmRguo6
– Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) February 5, 2021