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Dexter Fowler, free agent outfielder, has reportedly agreed to a 5 year, $82.5 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.
That’s a big payday for Fowler, who took a one year, $13 million deal to stay with the Cubs in 2016, and then jump back into the free agent waters this offseason.
Fowler, who turns 31 right before the 2017 season starts, put up a career-best 126 OPS+ with Chicago in 2016, slashing .276/.393/.447 in 551 plate appearances. He registered a 4.2 bWAR on the year, beating by 50% his previous high of 2.8.
Fowler is a solid hitter for a center fielder, but the defensive metrics have generally graded him out as sub-par with the glove — both DRS and UZR have him worse than -60 defensively for his career. Still, with salaries skyrocketing, $82.5 million over five years is about market value for a 2 win per year player.