Dexter Fowler put together an All-Star-caliber season with the Chicago Cubs throughout 2016, and at least one American League team has already expressed strong interest in bringing the free-agent center fielder aboard.
Continue for updates.
Blue Jays Chasing Fowler
Tuesday, Nov. 29
Citing sources, FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman reported the Toronto Blue Jays “are showing a strong interest” in Fowler with Jose Bautista a potential goner in free agency.
Heyman added that Fowler reuniting with the Cubs “appears unlikely” after the defending World Series champions signed Jon Jay to a one-year, $8 million deal on Tuesday, according to ESPN.com’s Jesse Rogers.
On Nov. 23, Heyman reported the New York Yankees did some homework on Fowler, but the team’s level of interest in bringing the 30-year-old to town remained unclear.
Fowler was dialed in throughout the 2016 season, and the numbers prove as much. In 125 games, he batted .276 with 13 home runs, 48 RBI and 13 stolen bases while working as a switch-hitting linchpin at the top of the order.
MLB Trade Rumors‘ Tim Dierkes also noted Fowler “led all free agents with a .393 on-base percentage in 2016 and reinforced his center field defense as at least average.”
A season after recording a career-best 4.1 offensive wins above replacement, per Baseball-Reference.com, Fowler should finally be able to cash in on a long-term deal a year after he was forced to settle for a one-year pact with the Cubs.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com