Dexter Fowler
Position: Center Field
Bats: Both – Throws: Right
Born: March 22, 1986 (Age 29)
With the impending departure of Yoenis Cespedes and the unsure play of Juan Lagares, the Mets may look to other options to supplant or support their current center field situation. Dexter Fowler has been rumored to be one of those players that Sandy Alderson may look to obtain this off season. And according to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Mets are doing just that.
Fowler would give the Mets a little bit of everything they need out in center. He can hit from both sides of the plate adequately, as well as providing some nice speed on the base paths.
After a slow start last season, Fowler finished strong helping the Chicago Cubs march into the playoffs. He posted a .250/.346/.411 slash line with 17 home runs, 46 RBI, 102 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases. He also had a career high 84 walks, besting his previous high of 68 in 2012 with the Colorado Rockies.
Defensively, Fowler is a below average center fielder, and while he improved considerably over a horrid 2014 (-20 DRS) he still had -12 defensive runs saved and a -1.9 UZR/150 last season. He has a poor arm and it did cost the Cubs a few runs.
At this point with Lagares showing glimpses of his old self in his 2015 postseason campaign, is it worth it for the Mets to go out and spend what likely would come to a four-year deal for a player like Fowler? Plus forfeit a draft pick?
The numbers between the two are not too far off in what was really a down year for Lagares and considered a career year from Fowler. But there are some concerns with Lagares, most notably his numbers against RHP in which he had a .599 OPS compared to .726 for Fowler.
And while Lagares has always hit LHP very well, posting a .273/.333/.438 line against them, Dexter Fowler demolishes LHP as you can see from his .326/.399/.467 slash.
Contract: MLB Trade Rumors predicts that Fowler will land a four-year deal worth about $60 million. This contract would pay him through his age 33 season. He was tendered a qualifying offer by the Chicago Cubs which puts another draft pick on the line for the Mets to give up if he is obtained.
Recommendation: I really believe Fowler would fit into this lineup well and could be a big part of the 2016 Mets and beyond. I believe this is a good opportunity for the Mets to pick up a solid center fielder on an affordable deal. The team needs another player who can man center field, whether it be Fowler or another.
