The Winter Meetings have come and gone, and yet Dexter Fowler, the best center fielder available this year, remains on the market. Last year, it took him until late February to find a new home, returning to the Cubs on a one-year deal. It can't possibly take that long again, can it? Let's give the market a boost and run down 10 teams who could possibly be good fits for player who offers quality on both sides of the ball.
Here's what you need to know about Fowler. He'll be 31 in March, and over the last two years with the Cubs, he's been one of the five most valuable center fielders in baseball. While his offense has been reliably 10 to 20 percentage points better than average for years, his defensive metrics took a big step forward in 2016, likely in part because the notoriously-shallow Fowler began playing deeper on the recommendation of the Cubs. Call him an average defender in center and an above-average hitter, and you can see why he's valuable.
A fun side fact: In parts of six seasons with the Rockies, he hit .270/.365/.423. Over the last three seasons with the Astros (2014) and Cubs (2015-16), he hit a nearly identical .262/.367/.427, putting to rest any early-career concerns that he was boosted by Coors Field. He did, however, receive and reject a qualifying offer, so interested teams will have to surrender a top draft pick.
Wonderful fits that still aren't going to happen
10. ORIOLES
Fowler was a perfect fit in Baltimore last winter, and we know that with a higher degree of certainty than usual because they reportedly were in the process of finalizing a three-year deal with the outfielder before he spurned them at the last second to return to the Cubs. On the field, they're still a great fit, because the Orioles finished last in outfield DRS and UZR, need a platoon partner for lefty-swinging left fielder Hyun Soo Kim, and have no capable right fielder to speak of. But in the same way that personal feelings likely prevent the Orioles from showing interest in José Bautista, it's hard to see Baltimore trying to sign Fowler again.
9. ANGELS
Like the Orioles, the Angels show up on every one of these lists, because they need so much help around Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun, and because they have a protected first-round pick (No. 10) in the draft, so signing a qualifying offer player shouldn't faze them. The idea of Fowler playing left in Anaheim, thus pushing Cameron Maybin to a backup role, would help make the Angels outfield among the strongest in baseball. That said, this club hasn't been a big spender in recent years, and they may have larger needs in the starting rotation anyway.
The team you never thought about but now you want this to happen badly
8. PHILLIES
The Phillies! Yes, the Phillies, the 91-loss, unlikely-to-contend, rebuilding Phillies. You wouldn't think they'd be in on a player like this, but then it also makes a certain amount of sense, because the 2016 Phillies showed some real progress on the field, particularly in a young rotation anchored by Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff, and Vince Velasquez. Where they struggled was on offense, scoring the fewest runs in the game, and due to their youth movement, one of baseball's more wealthy teams is running a very low payroll. It's the kind of sensible investment that could help push along what's looking like an impressive rebuild so far.
The team with too many outfielders and no center fielder
7. METS
With Yoenis Céspedes back, the Mets have Michael Conforto, Jay Bruce, Curtis Granderson, Cespedes, and Juan Lagares. That's five outfielders, except that Cespedes profiles far better in left, Conforto, Bruce, and Granderson are a trio of lefties who have no business in center, and the defensively-gifted Lagares is a well-below average hitter. If the season started today, Granderson probably starts in center, and that won't work. We know the Mets want to deal Bruce; we know other teams prefer Granderson. So let's get wild: trade both to cut salary, sign Fowler to play center, and put Conforto in right field every day. Now that's an outfield that actually works.
American League teams who kind of, sort of, already have center fielders
6. INDIANS
The Cleveland outfield remains uncertain. Rookie center fielder Tyler Naquin had a very strong debut (.296/.372/.514, 135 wRC+), but ranked very poorly on defense, and his questionable fielding was put on display in Game 6 of the World Series. He may be best off in a corner, and Cleveland has openings there. Michael Brantley has a ton of questions to answer after a year wrecked by shoulder injuries, and Lonnie Chisenhall is an average player who shouldn't be a roadblock to an upgrade. We know Cleveland reportedly made an offer to Michael Saunders; why not Fowler?
5. MARINERS
Seattle has a bit of an outfield grab bag themselves, as center fielder Leonys Martin looks to be flanked by some combination of Seth Smith, Mitch Haniger, Ben Gamel, and, at times, DH Nelson Cruz. That might not be good enough. Martin has proven to be a capable defender, but his 2017 Steamer projection of .242/.298/.365 (82 wRC+) matches his career line, and isn't good enough for a starting player on a contender. Smith is reportedly being shopped, and they've talked withMark Trumbo to play first, so more moves seem to be coming. Fowler would be an immediate upgrade for a team that hopes to compete with Houston and Texas.
The NL West teams constantly trying to one-up one another
4. DODGERS
By the time you read this, the Dodgers may have brought back Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner, or they may have lost both. It's been that kind of winter so far in Los Angeles, and like many of the other teams listed, their outfield situation is incredibly unsettled. Center fielder Joc Pederson (.246/.352/.495, 129 wRC+) pulled off the neat trick of improving both his contact rate and his power, but despite the presence of Andre Ethier, Andrew Toles, Yasiel Puig, and Trayce Thompson around him, the Dodgers have still been connected to Ryan Braun and Andrew McCutchen to man a corner. Maybe they'll get one. Maybe it's easier to just pay Fowler, who would also fill a hole leading off.
3. GIANTS
The Giants have been connected to Fowler, because they could use another outfielder to go with Hunter Pence and Denard Span (who could potentially go to left with Fowler in center). You don't give $62 million to a closer like Mark Melancon if you don't intend to try to win, presumably, and Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker aren't really answers to that question. It's nearly certain the Giants will add an outfielder in some sort of move, and it'd be hard to do better than Fowler right now.
Where there's smoke, there's fire
2. BLUE JAYS
Our two most likely teams are both reported to have four-year offers on the table to Fowler, and the Blue Jays have long been an obvious fit because they sound so much like so many of the other teams on the list. Fowler isn't going to displace Kevin Pillar's elite glove from center field, of course, but with Saunders and Jose Bautista both free agents, the Jays really don't have any other outfielders right now. Dalton Pompey, Ezequiel Carrera, and Melvin Upton Jr. all have their places on a roster, of course, but none ought to be starters for a contender. Imagine adding Fowler's on-base skills ahead of Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki, and Kendrys Morales? Now you're getting somewhere.
1. CARDINALS
The appeal of pulling a reverse Jason Heyward to grab an outfielder from a divisional rival aside, the Cardinals have been connected to Fowler, Lorenzo Cain, and Jarrod Dyson, as the need for an outfield upgrade has been clear. Randal Grichuk was surprisingly capable on defense in center, but his offense took a step back (.289 OBP), so Fowler could either displace him, or take over left and push Tommy Pham into the fourth outfielder role he's best suited for. This feels like such an obvious fit that it's almost a surprise it hasn't happened yet.