The Bernstein Brief: There Could Be A Way For Cubs To Keep Dexter Fowler
By Dan Bernstein--
CBSChicago.com senior columnist
(CBS) Nobody, including the Cubs, would be even the least bit insulted if center fielder Dexter Fowler opted to cash in his career-best year for the contract of a lifetime.
If someone wants to reward his 4.7 WAR season with something befitting a veteran who will be 31 on opening day, say perhaps along the lines of five years and $80 million, his taking it can't be begrudged.
But before Fowler were to jump at that, the Cubs could still make a play, sweetening a shorter-term deal at well above market value to see how much it may mean to him to stay with the defending World Series champions.
Two years, $40 million and still a chance at another bite at the apple before his age-33 season? Worth a shot, perhaps. Albert Almora is ready to replace Fowler's defense, but the 2017 Cubs would miss that offensive production at the top of the order. He set the tone with a .393 on-base percentage and .840 OPS.
Manager Joe Maddon has praised Fowler's role as catalyst by telling him often, "You go, we go."
He might go, but the Cubs can try to present a decision for him that might not be so easy.
Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. You can follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.
