We were standing at the back fields this morning, deconstructing the Chris Coghlan trade – I was literally telling people to wait and see what happened with the rest of the outfield before freaking out – and Dexter Fowler walked onto the field.
Literally. That just happened.
We’ll have to figure out what happened with the Orioles’ deal later, but Fowler is back. It’s a one year deal with a mutual option.
I am blown away.
To make room on the 40-man, the Cubs placed Zac Rosscup on the 60-day DL with shoulder inflammation.
There is so much to discuss about the roster now, and how the Cubs will coordinate their outfielders … but this is amazing.
The Cubs do lose that draft pick they were going to get when Fowler “signed” with the Orioles, but, on a reasonable deal, having Fowler back is worth much more.
UPDATE: Here’s what it looked like:
Look who's back?! @DexterFowler is a #Cub again! pic.twitter.com/yqG8Z6PYXm
— Kelly Crull (@Kelly_Crull) February 25, 2016
UPDATE 2: What a deal:
Terms of Fowler deal: $8 million base for 2016, $9 million mutual option for 2017, $5 million buy-out. #CubsTalk
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) February 25, 2016
So, it’s a $13 million guarantee from the Cubs, which is a nice deal for them, obviously. The option, from there, is so cheap that it makes you wonder whether the physical with the Orioles turned up something ugly (kinda doubtful, given the Orioles’ past), or whether there’s an expectation that Fowler will not exercise his half of the option, and the Cubs won’t make him a qualifying offer so he can hit free agency free and clear next year.
UPDATE 3: Sounds like that deal with the Orioles was never actually finalized:
word on fowler is he insisted on an opt-out with orioles after 1 year. o's didnt want to do it #cubs
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 25, 2016
word on fowler is he insisted on an opt-out with orioles after 1 year. o's didnt want to do it #cubs
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 25, 2016